Opinion ID: 1833353
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Whether the chancellor erred in the amount of child support awarded without specific findings of fact.

Text: ¶ 13. Ken alleges that the chancellor failed to apply the statutory guideline set out in Miss.Code Ann. § 43-19-101 (2000) when he determined the amount of child support owed. The award of $2,500 per month; plus insurance including all non-covered medical and dental expenses; private school tuition and all fees associated therewith; and college tuition, room and board is greater than 22% of Ken's estimated salary. [5] However, Miss.Code Ann. § 43-19-101(2) states that the guidelines apply unless the judicial or administrative body awarding or modifying the child support award makes a written finding or specific finding on the record that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case as determined under the criteria specified in Section 43-19-103. ¶ 14. In his orders dated November 18, 1998, and October 5, 1999, the chancellor found that special circumstances so exist which would necessitate a variance from the statutory guidelines in setting Ken's obligation of child support. He noted that as a doctor, Ken has the ability to earn a substantial income, whereas at this time, Brenda has no source of income other than the rehabilitative alimony she will receive for a few years. Also, the children have special needs which he deemed to include private school tuition, as the children's friends and daily routines and activities stem from them attending private school. We find that these reasons meet the criteria set out in Miss.Code Ann. § 43-19-103(f) & (h). See Vaughn v. Vaughn, 798 So.2d 431 (Miss.2001) (where findings were sufficient when the chancellor explained the source of the husband's income, noted that the income was expected to continue, and found that the resulting child support award was necessary and reasonable to maintain a reasonable standard of living for the child). ¶ 15. We also note that Ken has substantial savings and other income producing assets. Additionally, Ken's income is likely to increase as his career gets back on track. In light of this, we point to our holding in Thurman v. Thurman, 559 So.2d 1014 (Miss.1990), in which we held that the statutory guidelines regarding child support are not absolute, and the actual circumstances in each case are to be taken into consideration by the chancellor when making his award. Johnston v. Johnston, 722 So.2d 453 (Miss.1998), is also relevant. There we found that where the husband can claim the child as a dependent on his income taxes, then an amount of child support in excess of the statutory guideline is justified. Id. at 462. Ken is allowed to claim all three children as dependents for tax purposes. Lastly, over the years Ken and Brenda established college funds for the children. The accounts totaled upwards of $168,000 as of October 1995. We find that this should have been taken into consideration since, depending on where the children go to college, Ken's out-of-pocket expenses could be minimal. For these reasons, we find no error with the chancellor's decision regarding child support.