Court Opinion

ID: 9626248
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:06:26.699121+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:24.248755
License: Public Domain

HUNTER, Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I disagree with the majority’s decision to remand this case to the trial court for further findings regarding defendant’s child support arrearage. I otherwise concur in the majority opinion.
*808As noted by the majority, plaintiff submitted a spreadsheet calculating the child support paid by defendant and the amounts due. Plaintiff testified that the document was a true and accurate representation of the amounts due. Defendant did not object to the document submitted by plaintiff or to her testimony. I would hold that this evidence was competent and constituted a sufficient basis upon which the trial court could rely in making its findings regarding defendant’s child support arrearage.
Further, although defendant argues the trial court relied upon “faulty” and insufficient evidence to make its findings, he failed to include legible copies of the spreadsheet, or the worksheets to which it refers, in the record on appeal. “If the appellant intends to urge on appeal that a finding or conclusion of the trial court is unsupported by the evidence or is contrary to the evidence, the appellant shall file with the record on appeal a transcript of all evidencé relevant to such finding or conclusion.” N.C.R. App. P. 7(a)(1). Similarly, Rule 9 of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure requires the appellant to include in the record on appeal “so much of the evidence ... as is necessary for an understanding of all errors assigned[.]” N.C.R. App. P. 9(a)(1)(e). “It is the duty of the appellant to ensure that the record is complete.” Hicks v. Alford, 156 N.C. App. 384, 389, 576 S.E.2d 410, 414 (2003). “ ‘An appellate court is not required to, and should not, assume error by the trial judge when none appears on the record before the appellate court.’ ” Id. at 390, 576 S.E.2d at 414 (quoting State v. Williams, 274 N.C. 328, 333, 163 S.E.2d 353, 357 (1968)). Thus, defendant has failed to provide a sufficient record from which it can be determined whether the trial court’s findings of fact are supported by competent evidence. I would therefore overrule this assignment of error and affirm the decision of the trial court.