Opinion ID: 860511
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: modification or suspension of payments

Text: This Court will not reverse a chancellor's finding where it is supported by substantial evidence. Varner v. Varner, 666 So. 2d 493, 496 (Miss. 1995). Support agreements for divorces on the grounds of irreconcilable differences are subject to modification only if there has been a material change in circumstances. Varner, 666 So.2d at 497. The change must occur as an after-arising circumstance of the parties not reasonably anticipated at the time of the agreement. Id. Rather contends that the chancellor should have granted his motion to modify or suspend child support because he had shown a material change in circumstances since the child support decree was entered. Rather argues that because he had been unable to work due to medical problems, he could not meet his child support obligations of $300.00 per month. The chancellor apparently did not find that Rather had shown a material change in circumstances. The record reflects that Sheila, Rather's ex-wife testified that Rather has had the same health problems in 1984 before their divorce in 1992, and has had prior surgery in connection with his colon condition. In fact, Sheila testified that after his first surgery, the doctors told Rather that he would have problems again if he did not stick to his diet. After his first surgery in 1984, he returned to work with the cable company, hooking up cables and driving trucks after six weeks of recovery. From this line of testimony, it is apparent that Rather has had to contend with his medical condition even years before his divorce in 1992; therefore, it cannot be said that this condition caused a change in circumstances that the parties could not have contemplated at the time of the agreement. The chancellor was warranted in finding no material change in circumstance, and we will not disturb this finding.