Court Opinion

ID: 9748734
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 16:11:30.88041+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:38.894354
License: Public Domain

OLSZEWSKI, Judge,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent.
Although I do not condone father’s withholding of material evidence in the instant case, I cannot conclude that the trial court may be excused from following our Supreme Court’s mandate in Melzer v. Witsberger, 505 Pa.Super. 462, 488 A.2d 991 (1984), and the Bucks County guidelines.
In her petition to increase, mother alleged that:
Since the date of the entry of the order of [February of 1983], there has been a substantial and material change of circumstances including but not limited to the following:
(a) [Father’s] income has increased.
(b) The cost of living has increased.
(c) Specific expenses for said minor child have increased in the nature of school, clothing, food, shelter and medical.
Petition to Increase at 1. The trial court granted the instant petition by order dated January 20, 1988. On appeal, father maintains that the trial court erred in entering an order modifying an existing child support order: (1) without considering the Bucks County guidelines; (2) with*230out applying, on the record, the Melzer formula; and (3) without entering specific findings regarding the incomes of both parties and the reasonable needs of the children.
This Court has required that the Melzer formula and the county guidelines consistent with Melzer be considered in entering a subsequent modification of a child support order. Shutter v. Reilly, 372 Pa.Super. 251, 539 A.2d 424 (1988). The majority claims that it was impossible for the trial court to accurately employ the Melzer formula and county guidelines because appellant withheld information regarding his financial status. Being the only source of this information, the majority finds that father, on appeal, cannot complain of the trial court’s non-compliance with Melzer. I believe the majority misplaces the burden of proof on father. Mother filed a petition to increase which alleged that father’s income had increased. It was incumbent upon mother to prove the facts necessary to support the allegations of changed circumstances set forth in the petition. See Banks v. Banks, 275 Pa.Super. 439, 446-48, 418 A.2d 1370, 1374 (1980) (trial court may not order reduction in child support unless petitioner has proved by competent evidence that there is a material and substantial change in his financial circumstances). When father was not forthcoming with a current tax return and income and expense statement, these items should have been subpoenaed or requested by mother by motion to the court. If father refused to comply, appropriate sanctions could be imposed by the trial court. In a child support action, we are concerned with the welfare of the child. See Conway v. Dana, 456 Pa. 536, 318 A.2d 324 (1974) (“The purpose of a support order is the welfare of the children and not the punishment of the father.”). To ensure the welfare of the child, it is essential that all information pertinent to ascertaining the amount of support is before the hearing court. I, therefore, would remand for an evidentiary hearing and for the trial court to enter calculations consistent with the Melzer formula and the Bucks County guidelines.