Opinion ID: 2509669
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Child Support Payment

Text: Wife claims the family court abused its discretion in awarding $1,000 per month in child support. We disagree. In determining whether or not to award child support, courts should consider both parents': (1) incomes; (2) ability to pay; (3) education; (4) expenses; (5) assets; and (6) the facts and circumstances surrounding each case. Holcombe v. Hardee, 304 S.C. 522, 524-25, 405 S.E.2d 821, 822 (1991) ( citing Miller v. Miller, 299 S.C. 307, 384 S.E.2d 715 (1989)). Family court judges are generally required to follow the South Carolina Child Support Guidelines (Guidelines) when awarding child support. Matter of Bennett, 321 S.C. 485, 469 S.E.2d 608 (1996); see also S.C.Code Ann. § 63-17-470(A) (2010). The family court determined that Wife had an income of $10,418.16 per month and Husband had an income of $6,792 per month. Wife paid $119 per month to provide health insurance for Son and $200 per month for babysitters. Because Son spent 132 overnights annually with Husband, the family court classified the case as a shared custody calculation under the Guidelines. Under a shared custody calculation under Worksheet C, Husband would be required to pay only $181 per month in child support. See S.C.Code Ann. Regs. 114-4720, et. seq. (Supp.2009). Therefore, by requiring Husband to pay $1,000 per month, the family court deviated upward and exercised its discretion to provide a living standard for the [the child] substantially equal to that of the person owing the duty to support. S.C.Code Ann. § 63-5-20(A). In our view, the family court did not abuse its discretion, and we affirm.