Opinion ID: 1927523
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Order of June 25, 1982

Text: At the hearing on December 13, 1984, appellant testified that she had given birth to her second child to her present husband on December 21, 1983, and presented evidence, through the deposition of Dr. Ernest Moore, that she was suffering from symptoms of coronary artery disease. The combination of these factors led to appellant's decision to terminate her part-time employment. Based upon these facts, appellant sought relief from the order of June 25, 1982, requiring her to pay $80 per month in support. A support order may be modified upon a showing of substantial change of circumstances. Jaskiewicz v. Jaskiewicz, 325 Pa.Super. 507, 473 A.2d 183 (1984). When the financial circumstances of parties change, a support order may be increased or decreased. Commonwealth v. Vogelsong, 311 Pa.Super. 507, 457 A.2d 1297 (1983); Dunbar v. Dunbar, 291 Pa.Super. 224, 435 A.2d 879 (1981). Herein, appellant produced sufficient evidence to demonstrate a substantial change of circumstances. Her deteriorating health and the birth of her daughter at the age of forty established adequate evidence of a material change in circumstances. Appellant's decision to leave her part-time employment was substantiated by her physician's recommendation. Since she had had no income from November 23, 1983, the order of June 25, 1982 should have been terminated. The trial court's decision to hold this order in abeyance until such time as appellant becomes gainfully employed was a misapplication of the law and constituted an abuse of discretion. To allow that order to remain standing, then to be revived if and when appellant becomes employed, directly conflicts with that line of cases holding that a parent's ability to pay support must be determined at the time support payments are sought. See Butler v. Butler, supra . Accordingly, we vacate the order of June 25, 1982, as of August 15, 1984, when appellant petitioned for relief from that order. The order of December 13, 1984, is affirmed insofar as it directs appellant to report every six months to apprise the court of her medical condition and employment capabilities.