Opinion ID: 1995800
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Reasonable and Necessary Support.

Text: As we previously noted, the child support guidelines do not govern our determination of the appropriate support payments that are required of the parent of an adult dependent child. Nonetheless, they are instructive and so we note preliminarily that under the guidelines, Richard would be obligated to pay approximately $76.50 per week in support based on the parties' respective incomes. (The record shows that Richard's annual income is $22,630 and Jane's annual income is $16,640.) The trial court determined that Richard should pay support of only $62 per week. Although the court did not precisely explain the methodology used to arrive at this figure, the amount chosen by the court fits neatly into the overall financial situation of the involved persons. First of all, support of $62 per week results in yearly payments slightly less than the difference between Marie's annual expenses and annual SSI benefits, thus ensuring that Marie's minimum financial needs will be met. In addition, the amount of support Richard was ordered to pay equals the amount of child support payable by Jane to Richard. Therefore, the parties' child support obligations are offsetting, meaning neither party's income will be supplemented by the other party. The net effect is that the parties are put in roughly equivalent financial positions. Because Jane's and Marie's combined incomes are approximately the same as Richard's income, each household has approximately the same amount of income to support one parent and one child. We think this disposition is fair and equitable under the circumstances of this case. Our decision does not ignore Jane's obligation to contribute to Marie's financial support. Although Marie's annual needs were computed to be just under $9000, we note this figure did not include any sums for clothing other than shoes and boots, no amount for incidental expenses, and a very conservative sum for food. We have no doubt that Jane has in the past subsidized and will continue in the future to subsidize Marie's income as necessary. In conclusion, we agree with the district court that Marie is a dependent adult child entitled to support from her parents. We also agree with the district court's determination that Richard should contribute $62.00 per week to Marie's support. Therefore, we affirm the court's order that the parties' child support obligations offset each other. Costs are taxed to Richard. Each party will bear the expense of his or her own attorney. DECISION OF COURT OF APPEALS AND JUDGMENT OF DISTRICT COURT AFFIRMED.