Opinion ID: 1707026
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: modification of child support: change of circumstances

Text: Although the trial court held that Benita failed to prove a change of circumstances, the appellate court commented in its review of this case that Benita failed to prove a substantial change of circumstances. In brief to this court, Robert argued that Benita failed to show a substantial change of circumstances. It is the appellate court's inclusion of the word substantial that we now address. La.Civ.Code art. 142 provides as follows: An award of child support may be modified if the circumstances of the child or of either parent change and shall be terminated upon proof that it has become unnecessary. (Emphasis added). La.R.S. 9:311 provides, in pertinent part: An award for support shall not be reduced or increased unless the party seeking the reduction or increase shows a change in circumstances of one of the parties between the time of the previous award and the time of the motion for modification of the award. (Emphasis added). Despite the words utilized in the above Civil Code article and the Revised Statute, a cursory review of the appellate jurisprudence which addresses the modification of child support shows that the words substantial change have been engrafted and relied upon in almost all circuit courts of appeal in this state. See e.g.: Authement v. Authement, 96-1289 (La.App. 1 Cir. 5/9/97), 694 So.2d 1129; State v. Reed, 26,896 (La.App. 2 Cir. 6/21/95), 658 So.2d 774; Preis v. Preis, 93-569 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/2/94), 631 So.2d 1349; Megison v. Megison, 94-152 (La.App. 5 Cir. 9/14/94), 642 So.2d 885, writ denied, 94-2823 (La.1/13/95), 648 So.2d 1344, reconsideration denied, 94-2823 (La.2/17/95), 650 So.2d 258. For reasons which follow, we find that this jurisprudential gloss is erroneous as a matter of law, which unduly heightens the burden for showing a change of circumstances. Requiring proof of change of circumstances is, in general, valid, and is useful to prevent relitigation of the same issues and to protect the finality of judgments and compromises. Aldredge, 477 So.2d at 75. However, it is important to recall that a clear and unambiguous provision of law is to be applied as written. La.Civ.Code art. 9; La.R.S. 1:4. In that light, it is evident that neither La.Civ.Code art. 142 nor La.R.S. 9:311 references the need to show that the change relied upon is substantial. As such it is clear that the Legislature has provided that the burden of proving a change in circumstances does not require proof of a substantial change. A change of circumstances is a change material to the well-being of the child and his or her support that has occurred since the rendering of the original award. BLAKESLY, LOUISIANA FAMILY LAW, § 16.16 at 16-37 (Michie 1996). In the evaluation of these cases, there is no bright line rule as to what constitutes a change of circumstances to warrant modification. [9] Rather, as noted in Rousseau v. Rousseau, 96-502 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/26/96), 685 So.2d 681, 682: [T]he party asking for an increase [or decrease] need only prove a change of circumstances sufficient to justify the increase [or decrease] in child support... Sometimes the change in circumstances will be substantial and sometimes not; the magnitude of the change of circumstances is peculiar to the facts of a particular case. Simply stated, the type of change in circumstance is presented and determined on a case by case basis. The application of that rule, as so many other related matters, concerning modification of child support clearly falls within the great discretion of the trial court. Accordingly, each case will rise or fall on the peculiar facts adduced and an appellate court will not disturb the trial court's decision in these matters, absent clear abuse of discretion. Rousseau, 685 So.2d at 683.