Court Opinion

ID: 9658607
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 21:06:16.011625+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:57.001097
License: Public Domain

MYSE, J,
(concurring) I concur in the result reversing the trial court's order imposing a trust of $300 per month for Stephanie Vier's education after she attains her majority. I, however, would limit the basis of that decision to the fact that the trial court did not make a finding as to why the trust fund was necessary to protect the child's best interest. Had the court found *393that the custodial parent would misapply or waste the child support benefits ordered under the guidelines such an order would have been authorized by statute.
There is a serious question as to whether the trial court has the power to create such a trust if it makes a finding that: (1) the custodial parent would misapply the support monies for business commitments unrelated to the child's well-being, and (2) there is more than sufficient money to support the child being paid to the custodial parent under the application of the child support guidelines. The majority opinion reasons that the prohibition against imposing support obligations after the child attains majority precludes the creation of a trust for educational purposes during the child's minority to be used after the child attains majority. I see no reason for extending the prohibition of Bliwas v. Bliwas, 47 Wis. 2d 635, 178 N.W.2d 35 (1970), to the facts of this case.
Section 767.25(2), Stats., provides: "The court may protect and promote the best interests of the minor children by setting aside a portion of the child support which either party is ordered to pay in a separate fund or trust for the support, education and welfare of such children." The clear language of this statute authorizes the payment of support obligations for educational purposes. If there is a danger that these payments would be misdirected, it is within the court's power to impose a trust to assure the proper application of these funds both during the child's minority, should extraordinary expenses occur, or, if the fund is intact at the time the child attains majority, for further educational purposes.
Further restricting the court's power to protect the best interests of children granted by this statute is both unnecessary and unwise. When a court-created rule limits the power granted by statute, the limitation should be *394read narrowly rather than expansively so as not to further obstruct the purpose of the statute. It is not necessary to go so far in resolving the issue before us. I therefore concur in the result, but specifically wish to reserve the issue as to whether, under the appropriate circumstances, such a trust fund can be imposed.