Court Opinion

ID: 9714394
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 05:36:29.714575+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:25.719936
License: Public Domain

BECK, Judge,
concurring:
I concur in the result.
I agree with the majority that the master and trial court erred by relying solely upon the Philadelphia County Support Guidelines in their determination of the reasonable needs of the child. I also agree that upon remand the trial court must consider the formula for calculation of child support awards as established in Melzer v. Witsberger, 505 Pa. 462, 480 A.2d 991 (1984). I write separately to explain that upon remand, the trial court must recompute the support award in accord both with Melzer and the county guidelines. Shutter v. Reilly, 372 Pa.Super. 251, 539 A.2d 424 (1988).
Appellant does not argue that the Philadelphia County Support Guidelines are inconsistent with Melzer and thus presumptively invalid. Ryan v. Delong, 371 Pa.Super. 1, 538 A.2d 1 (1987). The validity of the guidelines is not before us and it is incorrect to ignore them. These guidelines were formulated in response to 23 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 4322 (Purdon Supp.1987). They are to be considered in entering a support order. Shutter v. Reilly, supra; Palmatier v. MacCartney, 365 Pa.Super. 300, 529 A.2d 518 *241(1987), Reitmeyer v. Reitmeyer, 355 Pa.Super. 318, 513 A.2d 448 (1986). The trial court must consult these guidelines so that the suggested amount of support is given due consideration and so there may be uniformity of awards for persons similarly situated. Shutter v. Reilly, supra.