Opinion ID: 1820947
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Did the lower court err in increasing support for a child of the parties to two hundred dollars ($200.00) per month, in order to defray college expenses?

Text: Appellant admits that Tammy Wray, 19-year-old daughter of the parties, meets the qualifications expressed in Pass v. Pass, 238 Miss. 449, 118 So.2d 769 (1960), and that he is financially able to contribute to the support of the child and for college expenses. However, he contends that appellee has substantial income and assets, and that she is equally responsible for paying support and for the education of Tammy. He also argues that the court considered expenses in computing costs of attending college which were not allowable. The chancellor found that appellant's income for the year 1978 was seventeen thousand five hundred thirty-five dollars ($17,535.00), that appellee's income was eleven thousand eight hundred sixty dollars fifty-three cents ($11,860.53), and that Tammy earned five hundred dollars ($500.00) during the summer. The chancellor further found that the total support required for the child, including college expenses, was five thousand eight hundred twenty dollars ($5,820.00) annually, and that one-half (1/2) of said total amount was twenty-nine hundred ten dollars ($2,910.00) and, allowing $500.00 credit for sums earned by her, the figure for one-half child support is reduced to twenty-four hundred ten dollars ($2,410.00). Appellant was ordered to pay into the registry of the court $200.00 per month for the support and education of Tammy beginning in April, 1979. We are unable to say that the chancellor was manifestly wrong in her finding of fact and in increasing the support by fifty dollars ($50.00) to an aggregate sum of $200.00 per month. Appellee will pay an amount toward support and education of the child equal to, or in excess of, that sum. The duty of a parent to provide a college education for his or her child contemplates support in addition to tuition and college costs, without which, provision for the college education would be in vain.