Court Opinion

ID: 2729323
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 21:40:50.095695+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:46:28.860492
License: Public Domain

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
 Memorandum Decision shall not be
 regarded as precedent or cited before any
 court except for the purpose of establishing

                                                                      FILED
 the defense of res judicata, collateral
 estoppel, or the law of the case.

                                                                    Oct 10 2012, 9:18 am

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                                                    CLERK
                                                                         of the supreme court,
                                                                         court of appeals and
                                                                                tax court

CAITLIN M. KING
Hunt, Hassler & Lorenz LLP
Terre Haute, Indiana

                                 IN THE
                       COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

IN RE: THE MATTER OF THE                            )
PATERNITY OF B.G., Minor Child,                     )
                                                    )
C.G. (Mother),                                      )
                                                    )
       Appellant-Petitioner,                        )
                                                    )
                 vs.                                )       No. 77A01-1202-JP-82
                                                    )
R.M. (Father),                                      )
                                                    )
       Appellee-Respondent.                         )

                       APPEAL FROM THE SULLIVAN SUPERIOR COURT
                            The Honorable Robert E. Springer, Judge
                                 Cause No. 77D01-1108-JP-55

                                         October 10, 2012

                  MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

CRONE, Judge
                                       Case Summary

       C.G. (“Mother”) filed a paternity action against R.M. (“Father”) on behalf of herself

and her infant son, B.G. Genetic testing established Father’s paternity, and Father admitted

his paternity at a hearing. The trial court issued an order establishing paternity, setting child

support, and changing B.G.’s last name to Father’s last name. Mother now appeals,

challenging the provisions in the order that pertain to Father’s income, the parenting time

credit, retroactivity of support, and the change of B.G.’s last name. We affirm in part,

reverse in part, and remand.

                               Facts and Procedural History

       On April 20, 2011, Mother gave birth to B.G. out of wedlock. Four months later, she

filed a verified petition to establish Father’s paternity. Mother, Father, and B.G. submitted to

genetic testing, which indicated with over ninety-nine-percent certainty that Father was

B.G.’s father. Father admitted to paternity at a December 2011 hearing.

       At the hearing, the Title IV-D Deputy Prosecutor submitted an unsigned, unverified

child support worksheet to the court to be attached to the final order. The prosecutor told the

trial court that the parties had agreed to Father paying forty-five dollars in weekly child

support as indicated on the worksheet. Father’s total support obligation included a parenting

time credit of $5.76 for fifty-two to fifty-five nights annually. The trial court asked Father if

he agreed to pay the forty-five-dollar weekly support obligation; Mother was not asked if she

had agreed to accept that amount. The court also addressed the subject of changing B.G.’s

last name, and each parent indicated a desire for B.G. to have his/her respective last name.

                                               2
       In January 2012, the trial court issued an order establishing paternity, setting Father’s

weekly child support obligation at forty-five dollars, and changing B.G.’s last name to

Father’s last name. The order made no provision for retroactivity of the child support

obligation. Mother now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.

                                   Discussion and Decision

       Mother contends that the trial court erred in calculating child support, in failing to

apply it retroactively, and in changing B.G.’s last name. At the outset, we note that Father

has not filed an appellee’s brief. When the appellee fails to submit a brief, we use a less

stringent standard of review and may reverse if the appellant establishes prima facie error. In

re Paternity of B.N.C., 822 N.E.2d 616, 618-19 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). Prima facie error is

error at first sight, on first appearance, or on the face of it. Id. at 619. We will not undertake

the burden of developing arguments for the appellee. Id. The appellee’s failure to file a brief

does not relieve us of our obligation to correctly apply the law to the facts in the record in

order to determine whether reversal is required. Vandenburgh v. Vandenburgh, 916 N.E.2d

723, 725 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).

                               I. Weekly Child Support Award

                                 A. Father’s Weekly Income

       Mother claims that the trial court erred in ordering child support absent any verified

evidence concerning Father’s weekly income. A trial court’s calculation of child support is

presumptively valid, and we will reverse the trial court’s decision only if it is clearly

erroneous or contrary to law. Saalfrank v. Saalfrank, 899 N.E.2d 671, 674 (Ind. Ct. App.

                                                3
2008). When conducting our review, we do not reweigh evidence; rather, we consider only

the evidence most favorable to the judgment. Id.

      With respect to calculating the amount of child support owed by the noncustodial

parent, Indiana Code Section 31-14-11-2 provides in part,

             (a) The court may order either or both parents to pay any reasonable
      amount for child support after considering all relevant factors, including the
      following:

             (1) The financial resources of the custodial parent.

             (2) The standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the parents
             been married and remained married to each other.

             (3) The physical and mental condition of the child.

             (4) The child’s educational needs.

             (5) The financial resources and needs of the noncustodial parent.

      Mother essentially claims that the trial court failed to give proper consideration to

Father’s financial resources by failing to require that he submit a signed worksheet or any

other documentation concerning his income. With respect to income verification, Indiana

Child Support Guideline 3(B) states,

      1. Submitting Worksheet to Court. In all cases, a copy of the worksheet which
      accompanies these Guidelines shall be completed and filed with the court
      when the court is asked to order support. This includes cases in which agreed
      orders are submitted. Worksheets shall be signed by both parties, not their
      counsel, under penalties for perjury.

      2. Documenting Income. Income statements of the parents shall be verified
      with documentation of both current and past income. Suitable documentation
      of current earnings includes paystubs, employer statements, or receipts and
      expenses if self-employed. Documentation of income may be supplemented
      with copies of tax returns.

                                            4
       Here, the record contains only an unsigned, unverified worksheet submitted by the

prosecutor and characterized as “the worksheet that we ran.” Tr. at 4. Although it is unclear

to whom “we” refers, when taken in context with the prosecutor’s statement that the parties

had reached an agreement regarding the amount of child support based on that worksheet, a

reasonable inference can be drawn that the parties had contributed the information that

appeared on the worksheet. Notably, Mother offered no worksheet of her own. The

unverified worksheet listed Father’s weekly income at $290.00, and used that figure to

calculate his weekly child support obligation of $45.00. During the hearing, the prosecutor

twice referenced the parties’ agreement to a weekly child support amount of $45.00, and he

ultimately requested that the unverified worksheet be attached to the final order. Mother

neither disputed the prosecutor’s statements nor objected to the attachment of the worksheet,

and at the end of the hearing, when the trial court specifically asked her if she had any

questions, she responded, “No.” Id. at 7.

       In short, Mother tacitly agreed to proceed without verified worksheets from her and

Father. Butterfield v. Constantine, 864 N.E.2d 414, 417 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). As such, she

invited the error about which she now complains. See Batterman v. Bender, 809 N.E.2d 410,

412 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004) (“a party may not take advantage of an error that [s]he commits,

invites, or which is the natural consequence of h[er] own neglect or misconduct.”). Thus, we

                                             5
affirm the trial court’s determination of Father’s income as stated on the unverified

worksheet attached to the final order.1

                                       B. Parenting Time Credit

        Mother asserts that the trial court erred in giving Father a parenting time credit for

overnight visits. We may not reverse a parenting time credit determination unless the trial

court manifestly abuses its discretion. Vandenburgh, 916 N.E.2d at 727. “No abuse of

discretion occurs if there is a rational basis in the record supporting the trial court’s

determination.” Saalfrank, 899 N.E.2d at 681 (citation and quotation marks omitted).

        Indiana Child Support Guideline 6 states, “A credit should be awarded for the number

of overnights each year that the child(ren) spend with the noncustodial parent.” The

parenting time credit computation requires a determination of the annual number of

overnights of parenting time exercised by the parent who is to pay child support, with

reference to the standard child support obligation worksheet, a parenting time table, and a

parenting time credit worksheet. Ind. Child Supp. G. 6, Commentary. The parenting time

table begins at fifty-two overnights annually, the equivalent of alternate weekends of

parenting time. Id.

        Here, the trial court awarded visitation rights to Father in accordance with the Indiana

Parenting Time Guidelines. However, Mother claims that due to B.G.’s young age, Father

was not entitled to overnight visits and therefore was not entitled to a parenting time credit.

        1
           However, we agree with the Butterfield court in “strongly … urg[ing] trial courts in the exercise of
their discretion to require verified child support worksheets in every case. Failure to do so frustrates not only
appellate review but also the goals of the child support guidelines.” 864 N.E.2d at 417.

                                                       6
Indiana Parenting Time Guideline Section II(A) states in part with respect to infants and

toddlers under age three,

       1. Overnight Parenting Time. Unless it can be demonstrated that the non-
       custodial parent has not had regular care responsibilities for the child,
       parenting time shall include overnights. If the non-custodial parent has not
       previously exercised regular care responsibilities for the child, then parenting
       time shall not include overnights prior to the child’s third birthday, except as
       provided below.

       ….

       Overnight if appropriate under Rule 1 above but not to exceed one (1) 24 hour
       period per week.

       Mother argues that since Father has not previously exercised regular care

responsibilities for B.G., he is not entitled to overnight visits until B.G. turns three. We

disagree. Father was not legally determined to be B.G.’s father until the date of the instant

order. Thus, it is difficult to see how he could be characterized as failing to “previously

exercise regular care responsibilities” for B.G. Id. The trial court entered the minimum

parenting time credit representing fifty-two to fifty-five overnights per year, which is

commensurate with the “one (1) 24 hour period per week” specified in the parenting time

guidelines. Id. As such, the trial court acted within its discretion in giving Father a parenting

time credit of $5.76 per week. Thus, we affirm the trial court in this respect.

                                II. Retroactive Child Support

       Although Mother characterizes her next argument as trial court error in failing to order

Father to pay a child support arrearage, we find that it is more accurately stated as an alleged

failure to order him to pay retroactive child support, as required under Indiana Code Section

                                               7
31-14-11-5. The statute reads, “The support order … may include the period dating from the

birth of the child; and … must include the period dating from the filing of the paternity

action.” Id. (emphasis added). An award of retroactive support for the period dating from

the latter of the two dates listed in the statute is mandatory. Matter of Paternity of A.D.W.,

693 N.E.2d 576, 578 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998). Here, the trial court made no provision for the

retroactivity of its support order. As such, the trial court erred in failing to make the weekly

child support order retroactive to at least the date that Mother filed the paternity action.

Consequently, we reverse and remand with instructions to do so.

                                 III. Change of Last Name

       Finally, Mother challenges the trial court’s order changing B.G.’s last name from hers

to Father’s. We review the trial court’s decision to change a child’s name using an abuse of

discretion standard. In re Paternity of J.C., 819 N.E.2d 525, 528 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). A

father seeking a surname change for his nonmarital child must prove that the change is in the

child’s best interest. Id. at 527. In determining the best interest of the child, the trial court

may properly consider “whether the child holds property under a given name, whether the

child is identified by public and private entities and community members by a particular

name, the degree of confusion likely to be occasioned by a name change[,] and (if the child is

of sufficient maturity) the child’s desires.” Paternity of M.O.B., 627 N.E.2d 1317, 1318-19

(Ind. Ct. App. 1994). Absent evidence of the child’s best interest, the father is not entitled to

obtain a name change. See In re J.C., 819 N.E.2d at 527-28 (finding abuse of discretion

where trial court ignored best interest standard in ordering change of child’s last name).

                                               8
      At the paternity hearing, the following colloquy took place concerning the change of

B.G.’s last name:

      THE COURT:           Okay. And you say the parties wish to address the
                           child’s last name. Unless [Father] is a convicted child
                           molester or is a convicted felon or is a serious violent
                           felon or unless there is some really good reason, then we
                           will change the child’s name to … [Father’s last name]
                           unless the parties agree that it’s to stay [Mother’s last
                           name]. Having said that, what do you have to say about
                           it?

      [MOTHER]:            Uhm, I would like it to stay [my last name], I mean
                           [Father] hasn’t done anything, so I don’t see why he
                           would get the [Father’s] name if he hasn’t seen him or
                           had anything to do with him.

      THE COURT:           Well, he’s going to pay child support and I guess, I don’t
                           know what his intentions are, in regard to this—how old
                           is the child?

      [MOTHER]:            Nine (9) months.

      THE COURT:           Nine (9) months old. What do you have to say?

      [FATHER]:            I think he should [have] my name. I would like
                           something to do with the kid, just kind of like; I don’t
                           think I should have to go to her house to see him. I think
                           I should, we should work something out like, I don’t
                           know, all the legal stuff first. I mean, I don’t know how
                           old does he have to be so like I can get it on the weekend
                           or, I mean, she’s going to be there; not like her and her
                           mother sitting there like watching me like hawks or
                           something, at her house.

      THE COURT:           Well we’re not actually here to determine that but you, I
                           mean he does have parental rights; he does have the right
                           to see the child …

      [MOTHER]:            Oh, yeah.

                                            9
       THE COURT:   … and be involved in the child’s life. He’s not any of
                    those things that I’ve said; is a convicted child molester
                    or a serious violent felon or anything like that?

       [MOTHER]:    No.

       THE COURT:   He is going to be required to pay child support, so; are
                    you employed?

       [FATHER]:    Yes.

       THE COURT:   Okay. And you intend to pay your child support?

       [FATHER]:    Yes.

       THE COURT:   Maybe you can work something out. I mean this child is
                    nine (9) months old, is very young; there’s no doubt
                    about that. There are guidelines, and you can get a copy
                    of the guidelines in the Clerk’s Office, Parenting Time
                    Guidelines, or we may be able to give you a copy, which
                    sets forth what the Indiana Guidelines are for visitation
                    of the non-custodial parent, though right now there is no
                    order established to that effect. Now that is something
                    you can do if you want to. If you are unable to work
                    something out. Clearly, you’re far better off for the child
                    if you can work together and both raise this child …. So
                    having said that, we will change the child’s name to
                    [Father’s last name]. The child’s middle name is [A.]?
                    [Spelling]?

       [MOTHER]:    Yes.

       THE COURT:   It will be [B.A. Father’s last name]. And we’ll enter an
                    order for the Health Department to change the birth
                    certificate to reflect that. Do you have any questions,
                    [Mother]?

       [MOTHER]:    No.

Tr. at 5-7.

                                     10
       Based on the foregoing, it appears that the trial court made its decision to change

B.G.’s name by applying a presumption that unless Father had a history of certain criminal

offenses or unless “some really good reason” existed for not changing B.G.’s name to

Father’s, then it should be changed. Id. at 6. Such analysis does not comport with the best

interest determination outlined in J.C. and M.O.B. Simply put, the record is devoid of any

indication that the trial court conducted a best interest inquiry before ordering that B.G.’s last

name be changed. Thus, we reverse the judgment in this respect and remand for a

determination of best interest as it pertains to B.G.’s last name.

       Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.

RILEY, J., and BAILEY, J., concur.

                                               11