Opinion ID: 1057970
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Modification of Child Support Payable Pursuant to the 21% Provision

Text: We have determined that the second component of the Basic child support, the 21% provision, is enforceable and merges into the divorce decree. As such, it is subject to modification. Mr. Kesser sought a downward modification of the 21% provision based upon 1) his loss of employment in 1997 and his unemployment for approximately one year until March 1998; 2) his visitation with the child; 3) a change in the law since the final decree of divorce was entered; and 4) his adoption of two children at the time of trial and an additional child following trial. The trial court modified the 21% provision only by ordering that the child support computed on the severance pay be placed in a trust fund rather than paid directly to Ms. Kesser. We review the trial court's findings of fact de novo upon the record accompanied by a presumption of correctness, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. R.App. P. 13(b); Kaplan v. Bugalla, 188 S.W.3d 632, 635 (Tenn.2006). We review the trial court's conclusions of law de novo, with no presumption of correctness afforded to the decisions of the courts below. Kaplan, 188 S.W.3d at 635. We conclude that neither Mr. Kesser's loss of employment, his visitation with the child, nor a change in the law are proper bases for modification of the 21% provision. We hold, however, that Mr. Kesser's three additional children must be considered in awarding support based upon the 21% provision and that the Guidelines in effect at the time of the hearing must be applied to the trust fund that was created.