Opinion ID: 2000657
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Use of Joint Physical Custody Worksheet

Text: Ann offered the trial court a sole custody child support calculation using worksheet 1 from the guidelines. Paul offered a joint physical custody child support calculation using worksheet 3 from the guidelines. The trial court used Ann's sole custody worksheet and found that Paul's monthly support obligation according to the sole custody guidelines should be approximately $1,292.85 per month, and reduced this monthly amount to $950. Paragraph L of the guidelines, entitled Joint Physical Custody, provides in its entirety as follows: When a specific provision for joint physical custody is ordered, support may be calculated using worksheet 3. Paul claims that because he established that he shared joint physical custody of his children with Ann, the trial court erroneously failed to use worksheet 3 to calculate child support, and that the use of the joint physical custody worksheet would yield a lower child support award. In response, Ann argues that the term may in paragraph L indicates that use of the joint physical custody worksheet is permissive or discretionary unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest legislative intent. See State ex rel. Fick v. Miller, 255 Neb. 387, 584 N.W.2d 809 (1998). Pursuant to paragraph A of the guidelines, the purpose of the guidelines is to recognize the equal duty of both parents to contribute to the support of their children in proportion to their respective net incomes and, as stated in paragraph C of the guidelines, to do so in a way that is not unjust or inappropriate. Paragraph L, referring the court and parties to the use of worksheet 3 in cases of joint physical custody, is but one section of the guidelines. Components of a series or collection of provisions pertaining to the same subject matter which are in pari materia may be conjunctively considered so that different provisions are consistent, harmonious, and sensible. See, e.g., Willers v. Willers, 255 Neb. 769, 587 N.W.2d 390 (1998) (conjunctively construing statutes regarding child support). Where possible, effect should be given to all provisions of a statute or regulation. Cox Cable of Omaha v. Nebraska Dept. of Revenue, 254 Neb. 598, 578 N.W.2d 423 (1998). Taking all the guidelines and worksheets together, it is clear that the most appropriate worksheet to be used in a case of joint physical custody is worksheet 3, which is designed for that purpose. Accordingly, trial courts are directed to employ worksheet 3 in cases of joint physical custody unless a sound reason not to do so is established by the record, in which case, the trial court shall indicate in the findings portion of the child support decree or order or on worksheet 5 the reason why worksheet 3 was not used. Courts in other jurisdictions have held that where a party proves that joint physical child custody exists, it is error for a trial court to refuse to apply a joint custody calculation to determine child support. See, e.g., Wright v. Gregorio, 855 P.2d 772 (Alaska 1993); Gomez v. Gomez, 119 N.M. 755, 895 P.2d 277 (N.M.App. 1995); Grage and Grage, 128 Or.App. 409, 876 P.2d 350 (1994); Udy v. Udy, 893 P.2d 1097 (Utah App.1995); Pharo v. Pharo, 19 Va.App. 236, 450 S.E.2d 183 (1994). We agree and determine that using the joint custody worksheet, where it is justified by a proven joint physical custody arrangement, facilitates the trial court's determination of an appropriate amount of child support commensurate with each parent's income according to the guidelines. In addition, the court may still deviate from the guidelines' amount of support if trial proof demonstrates that such deviation is appropriate and supported by competent evidence. See Nebraska Child Support Guidelines, paragraph C. See, also, DeTevis v. Aragon, 104 N.M. 793, 727 P.2d 558 (N.M.App.1986) (holding that joint physical custody does not necessarily imply equal division of financial responsibility for children's welfare, particularly when financial circumstances of parents are disparate). In this case, joint physical custody was established and the trial court rejected Ann's request to modify joint custody to sole custody awarded to her. Under these facts, it was incongruous for the trial court to use the sole custody worksheet submitted by Ann as the basis for its child support order rather than the joint custody worksheet. The trial court erred in failing to use the guidelines' joint custody worksheet 3 to calculate Paul's child support obligation. This error amounted to an abuse of discretion because, although the evidence overall is thin, given the undisputed gross incomes of the parties and the undisputed percentages of the parties' physical custody of the children, the use of the joint physical custody worksheet as compared to the sole custody worksheet would have yielded a significantly different child support order entered against Paul. Based on the foregoing, we reverse the trial court's order modifying Paul's child support obligation and remand the cause to the trial court for a rehearing that includes the receipt of evidence to permit calculation of child support using the guidelines' joint custody worksheet. Because the best interests of the children are controlling in matters involving child support, see § 42-364 and Schulze v. Schulze, 238 Neb. 81, 469 N.W.2d 139 (1991), and of necessity, there needs to be a child support order made in this case, our direction provides for the receipt of additional evidence upon remand. Upon remand, the trial court is reminded that deviations are to be ordered with explicitness. As noted above, the trial court relied on the sole custody support worksheet proffered by Ann to determine support, did not supply its own worksheet, and deviated downward with a brief comment. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 42-364.16 (Reissue 1998) provides that support shall be set following the guidelines unless a basis for deviation is established. See, also, Bondi v. Bondi, 255 Neb. 319, 586 N.W.2d 145 (1998). Paragraph C of the guidelines provides, in pertinent part: All orders for child support obligations shall be established in accordance with the provisions of the guidelines unless the court finds that one or both parties have produced sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption that the guidelines should be applied. All stipulated agreements for child support must be reviewed against the guidelines and, if a deviation exists and is approved by the court, specific findings giving the reason for the deviation must be made. Findings must state the amount of support that would have been required under the guidelines and include a justification of why the order varies from the guidelines.... In the event of a deviation, the reason for the deviation shall be contained in the findings portion of the decree or order; or worksheet 5 should be completed by the court and filed in the court file. (Emphasis supplied.) In Baratta v. Baratta, 245 Neb. 103, 105, 511 N.W.2d 104, 105 (1994), this court stated that it would be extremely helpful to the reviewing court if the trial judge somehow would incorporate into the record his or her worksheet which was employed in arriving at a child support amount. We observe that the absence of explanations for deviations exists both in appeals from initial dissolution decrees, see McCall v. McCall, 1 Neb.App. 373, 496 N.W.2d 8 (1992), and in appeals in modification cases, see Lebrato v. Lebrato, 3 Neb.App. 505, 529 N.W.2d 90 (1995). Recently in Rauch v. Rauch, 256 Neb. 257, 590 N.W.2d 170 (1999), we reiterated the mandate of paragraph C of the guidelines that the trial court explain in the findings portion of its order the basis for the court's deviation from the guidelines, if any, in calculating support or, alternatively, to complete and file worksheet 5. We repeat this admonition.