Opinion ID: 1608429
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the trial court erred in awarding Bradley only $1,000 per month child support where Moulds, had an adjusted gross income of more than $750,000.00.

Text: ¶ 11. Bradley argues on cross-appeal that the Chancellor erred in requiring Moulds to pay only $1,000 per month in child support. Bradley argues that the Chancellor miscalculated Moulds's adjusted gross income, and the record supports this assertion. In providing his rationale for increasing Moulds's child-support obligation to $1,000 per month, the Chancellor stated, This Court has looked at the living expenses of the father which is alleged to be $14,170 a month, which is due out of his adjusted gross income of $32,108.57 a month. ¶ 12. Bradley suggests that the Chancellor arrived at the erroneous conclusion that Moulds's annual adjusted gross income was $ 385,302.84 by deducting taxes from Moulds's adjusted gross income provided in his U.C.C.R. 8.05 disclosure statement. Bradley argues that the Chancellor, in reaching his decision, substantially underestimated Moulds's adjusted gross income by more than $300,000 a year: That the adjusted gross income of the defendant (Moulds) annually was $385,302.84. In fact, the adjusted gross income was $ 761,435.11. The Chancellor apparently went solely by Moulds' 8.05 statement, without comparing it to Moulds' tax returns. As a result, while the monthly salary was stated as $ 54,166.57 plus 5000 for endorsements, the 1997 tax return attached to the 8.05 showed wages of $1,304,163 which alone equates to a gross monthly salary of $108,680.25. Apparently, Moulds listed his net monthly salary on the 8.05, and then the Chancellor compounded the error by deducting the taxes and allowed withholdings from it, which resulted in the $300,000+ shortage in the finding as to Moulds' income. It is apparent that the Chancellor incorrectly calculated Moulds's adjusted gross income. Moulds does not argue otherwise in his brief. ¶ 13. However, the Chancellor expressly stated that he was basing his award of $1,000 per month in child support on the needs of the child rather than on the amount of Moulds's salary. In making the required on the record finding for a guidelines departure pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 43-19-101 (2000), [3] the Chancellor stated that: [T]he Court finds that the application of the guidelines in this case are unjust and inappropriate due to the evidence presented as to the needs of the child. Now, we do look at the ability of the father to pay child support, but that is only one factor in reference to the child support. The paramount concern are [sic] the needs of the child. Therefore, the Court finds that the child support should be increased to $1,000/month and this should be retroactive to the filing of the complaint on October 15, 1996. ¶ 14. In child support modification proceedings the Chancellor is accorded substantial discretion and is charged to consider all relevant facts and equities to the end that a decree serving the best interest of the child may be fashioned. This Court's standard of review on appeal is the familiar abuse of discretion standard. Clark v. Myrick, 523 So.2d 79, 82 (Miss.1988). ¶ 15. In making his ruling, the Chancellor expressly considered and discussed such factors as the child's financial and medical needs, age, cost of schooling, inflationary influences in the community, Moulds's level of income, and the financial condition of Bradley. Even cases in which a parent has extraordinary wealth, the essential purpose of child support remains the support of the child. Miss.Code Ann. § 93-9-7 (1994). However, we are unable to conclude whether an award of $1,000 per month for the support of one child is adequate without the benefit of the Chancellor's analysis using Moulds's correct annual adjusted gross income. The marked disparity between Moulds's income and the amount he is required to pay in child support warrants that this issue be revisited by the Chancellor. ¶ 16. As such, the Chancellor's ruling on the issue of the amount of child support payable by Moulds is reversed and remanded.