Opinion ID: 2521462
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Denial of Motion to Amend the Judgment (the Forty Percent Issue)

Text: [¶22] Near the close of the trial, the district court made a fleeting reference to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 20-2-304(c) (LexisNexis 2003). That statute provides: (c) When each parent keeps the children overnight for more than forty percent (40%) of the year and both parents contribute substantially to the expenses of the children in addition to the payment of child support, a joint presumptive support obligation shall be determined by use of the tables. After the joint presumptive child support obligation is derived from column three of the tables, that amount shall be divided between the parents in proportion to the net income of each. The proportionate share of the total obligation of each parent shall then be multiplied by the percentage of time the children spend with the other parent to determine the theoretical support obligation owed to the other parent. The parent owing the greater amount of child support shall pay the difference between the two (2) amounts as the net child support obligation. Based upon that fleeting reference, Father contends that the district court made a binding oral ruling that Father was entitled to visitation for at least 40% of the children's time. Continuing, Father contends that because the final decree does not allow him 40% of the children's time, the district court is duty bound to amend its judgment to conform to that oral pronouncement. Of course, the record is not clear what percentage of the time Father has spent, or will spend, with the children over the course of time. The decree is clear that Father's time with the children is to be as generous as possible, and Mother has pledged to make that happen to the extent it is feasible, consistent with circumstances. In addition to being illogical, this argument is not supported by cogent argument or pertinent authority, and we will not consider it further. Odegard v. Odegard, 2003 WY 67, ¶31, 69 P.3d 917, ¶31 (Wyo. 2003).