Opinion ID: 2273833
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: We accepted discretionary review of this case primarily to resolve whether a trial court could properly enforce, through its contempt powers, an obligation under a divorce decree to make payments to a creditor on a marital debt even after the former husband, who had been ordered to make the payments, received a post-decree Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge, and the former wife failed to institute an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court. We conclude that the trial court could properly enforce the former husband's divorce obligation through contempt proceedings. Following recent amendments to the federal bankruptcy code, this obligation is excepted from discharge in bankruptcy with no requirement for an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court. This case also presents the issue of whether a motion for modification of child support was properly denied, especially in light of the fact that the amount of child support established in the divorce decree was based upon the parent's imputed income as a result of a finding of voluntary under-employment. We conclude that the trial court properly denied the motion for modification because the evidence presented on the motion for modification did not establish a material and continuing change in circumstances. On a third issue, we find no error in the trial court's awarding attorney's fees to one party. As a consequence of our analysis, we affirm the decision of the Court of Appeals affirming the rulings of the trial court on these three issues.