Opinion ID: 2016485
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Application of the Guidelines.

Text: Under our child support guidelines, the court must determine the net monthly income of both the custodial and noncustodial parent. Based upon the evidence received, the court determined Carol's net monthly income was $1515 and Charles' net monthly income was $2809. This calculation included a deduction for dependent health insurance paid by Charles. Under the guidelines, child support is set at 22.5% of the noncustodial parent's net income. Thus, the amount of child support specified by the guidelines is $632 per month. There is a rebuttable presumption that this amount is the correct amount of support to be awarded. Iowa Code § 598.21(4)(a). The court found no special or extraordinary circumstances which would justify an adjustment of the support amount. The district court did, however, comment that that support amount seemed high. We recognize an increase in the amount of child support from $125 per month to $632 per month is significant. However, the guidelines are designed to consider both the ability of the parents to provide support for their child or children and the needs of the child or children. At the time of the modification in 1981, the same considerations of ability to provide and the needs of the children were applicable. Charles was required to continue to pay $500 ($125 × 4) per month in child support when his net annual income was approximately $23,198. Now, with a net annual income of over $33,700, he is required to pay $632 per month in child support. In 1980, approximately twenty-six percent of Charles' net income went towards his child support obligation. Under his current obligation, only twenty-three percent of his net income is required for child support.