Opinion ID: 1444348
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application of Shared Physical Custody Provision

Text: Father contends that the district court erred in refusing to reduce his child support obligation pursuant to the shared physical custody provision of the child support guidelines. Section 20-6-304(d) provides: (d) 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. There is no dispute that Father meets the overnight requirement found in the statute. However, Father must also show that he contributes to the expenses of the child in a substantial manner. Cranston, 879 P.2d at 350. Father contends that overwhelming evidence established his substantial contribution, and that the district court so found in its decision letter modifying Father's support payment from $430.38 to $300.00 per month. Father posits that the district court failed to apply the provision only because Father did not have joint legal custody of his daughter. He relies on the language in the decision letter on reconsideration which stated: [T]he Court is persuaded that Petitioner does provide for addition[al] contributions but that the legal custody of the child is primary custody not joint custody so as to bring the calculations under the lesser schedule for all purposes; this notwithstanding the considerable percentage of actual physical custody in the non-custodial parent. Father is correct that the shared custody provision is not limited to situations involving a joint custody order. However, our reading of the district court's decision letter yields an interpretation which differs from Father's. We believe that the district court was referring to the language in Cranston where we stated: A parent who keeps the children overnight the required percentage of the year and pays a child support obligation has not satisfied the three requirements of Wyo. Stat. § 20-6-304(d). Evidence must also support a finding that both parents substantially contributed to the expenses of the children. The legislative intent to encourage both parents' involvement in the financial maintenance of their children requires this degree of participation. Otherwise, a potentially onerous burden would be imposed on one parent. It must be remembered that many expenses of maintaining the children's primary residence, including mortgage or rent, continue unabated during visitation periods with the other parent. Compart v. Compart, 417 N.W.2d 658, 662 (Minn.App. 1988). Cranston, 879 P.2d at 350 (emphasis added). It is appropriate for the court to consider expenses inherent in the primary custodianship of the child. Moreover, the district court's determination that Father provided additional contribution does not necessarily equate to the substantial contribution required by the statute. We must, therefore, determine whether the evidence of Father's contributions mandates the application of the shared physical custody statute or whether the factors enumerated in W.S. 20-6-302(b) [1] were available to reach a just and equitable result. As evidence of his substantial contribution, Father points to his testimony stating he provides and pays for all of the child's needs while at his house, providing her with her own room, piano lessons at $20.00 per month, educational supplies, clothing, numerous outdoor trips and outdoor clothing for their activities together, and an expensive bicycle for her birthday. Father submitted several canceled checks, but stated he was unable to substantiate many of these expenses because cash was used to purchase the items. On the other hand, Mother testified that because the child was older and needed more privacy, she had given up rental income to provide her with her own room. (Vol II, p. 99). Mother testified that Father did not contribute to her school clothes and intimate apparel, although Father purchased five or six items of used clothing during the last school year. Mother stated that Father refused to contribute toward the school supplies required at the beginning of the school year and that Mother paid for all school lunches, all medication, and had covered the total medical bill on two or three occasions. Mother also testified that her daughter's growth required several new pairs of shoes each year and that she needed child support to provide the basic items needed. Extras provided by Mother included swimming lessons, choir supplies, flute lessons, a bicycle for home and one for Father's house, which was sold to help pay for the new bicycle purchased by Father. Given Mother's evidence, we do not find an abuse of discretion in the determination that Father failed to show a substantial contribution and that Father should continue payment of child support. It is clear that the district court considered the contributions made by Father and the time his daughter spent at his home, concluding that a $130.00 decrease from the presumptive support amount was appropriate. This determination was certainly not beyond the bounds of reason, and we see no reason to disturb the district court's order.