Strandberg v. Strandberg

664 N.W.2d 887, 2003 Minn. App. LEXIS 871, 2003 WL 21694558
CourtCourt of Appeals of Minnesota
DecidedJuly 22, 2003
DocketC6-02-2246
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 664 N.W.2d 887 (Strandberg v. Strandberg) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Strandberg v. Strandberg, 664 N.W.2d 887, 2003 Minn. App. LEXIS 871, 2003 WL 21694558 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

OPINION

MINGE, Judge.

Child support obligor appeals the district court’s order for child support and asserts that the district court abused its discretion by failing to consider the resources and needs of the obligee and the child, including a state adoption subsidy, during the time obligor was unemployed and his income was below poverty-level guidelines. Because the adoption subsidy, the obligor’s resources, and the obligee’s and child’s resources and needs are relevant to the child support determination, we reverse and remand.

FACTS

The marriage of appellant Brian Paul Strandberg and respondent Debra Ann Strandberg was dissolved in January 2002. The parties have one adopted minor child, for whom the state pays a monthly adoption subsidy. When the parties separated, Debra, as the custodial parent, received the adoption subsidy.

The question of child support was determined after the marriage dissolution. The matter was initially heard by a child support magistrate (CSM). At the hearing before the CSM, the parties stipulated to the following facts:

— When the parties separated in March 2001, Brian’s net monthly income was $1,513.54.
— Brian lost.his job on July 26, 2001, and from August 1, 2001 to March 4, 2002, his net monthly income, from unemployment compensation, was $850. He was neither volun *889 tarily unemployed nor voluntarily underemployed.
— On March 4, 2002, Brian became employed, and his net monthly income increased to $1,120.50. His net monthly income was $1,350 on June 21, 2002, the date support was determined.
— From March 1, 2001 to June 21, 2002, Brian’s monthly expenses were $1,684.
— From March 1, 2001 to June 21, 2002, Debra’s net monthly income was $1,762.
— From March 1, 2002 to June 21, 2002, Debra received the adoption subsidy, which ranged from $397 to $427 per month.
— Brian did not pay any direct child support to Debra during the 10 months while the marriage dissolution was pending.

The CSM determined that Brian owed child support, including arrearages, but that he was entitled to a downward deviation from the child support guidelines. The CSM’s determination was based on Brian’s limited resources; the resources available to Debra, including the state adoption subsidy; and the amount of time the child spent with Brian.

Pursuant to a motion for review filed by Debra, the determination of the CSM was considered by the district court. The district court (1) determined that Brian was not entitled to a downward deviation from the guidelines, that the summer visitation schedule did not support an adjustment in support, and that the state adoption subsidy could not be considered in determining child support or child support arrearages; (2) did not address the relevance of Brian’s resources being below the poverty level, of Debra’s resources, or of the child’s resources in setting support or support ar-rearages; and (3) ordered payment of child support and arrearages according to the child support guidelines.

ISSUE

Did the district court abuse its discretion by not considering the financial circumstances of the child support obligor, obligee, or the child in setting child support and arrearage obligations at the level specified in the statutory guidelines?

ANALYSIS

District courts have broad discretion in determining child support. Marden v. Marden, 546 N.W.2d 25, 27 (Minn.App.1996). In reviewing decisions of child support magistrates, district courts are not required to give any deference to those decisions. Blonigen v. Blonigen, 621 N.W.2d 276, 280 (Minn.App.2001), review denied (Minn. Mar. 13, 2001). A reviewing court affirms the district court’s support determination if that deter mination has a reasonable and acceptable basis in fact. Buntje v. Buntje, 511 N.W.2d 479, 481 (Minn.App.1994). A reviewing court will find an abuse of discretion where it finds a clearly erroneous conclusion that is against logic and the facts on record. Moylan v. Moylan, 384 N.W.2d 859, 864 (Minn.1986).

Generally, the obligation to pay child support is based on the obligor’s ability to pay. Schneider v. Schneider, 473 N.W.2d 329, 332 (Minn.App.1991). This is reflected in the child support guidelines, which are set forth at Minn.Stat. § 518.551, subd. 5(b) (2002). The child support guidelines are a “rebutable presumption and shall be used in all cases when establishing or modifying child support.” Minn.Stat. § 518.551, subd. 5(i) (2002). If the court does not deviate from the guidelines, the statute requires written findings

*890 concerning the amount of the obligor’s income used as the basis for the guidelines calculation and any other significant evidentiary factors affecting the determination of child support.

Id. In addition to the child support guidelines, a court “shall” consider:

all earnings, income, and resources of the parents, including real and personal property * * * [and] the financial needs and resources, physical and emotional condition, and educational needs of the child or children to be supported.

Minn.Stat. § 518.551, subd. 5(c)(1), (2) (2002).

Here, the district court refused to consider the state adoption subsidy in setting child support. The child support statute requires the district court to consider the “financial needs and resources” of the child. Id. (emphasis added). We have previously held that the adoption subsidy is a resource attributable to the child for purposes of reimbursing the county for the cost of care provided to the child in an out-of-home placement. County of Ramsey v. Wilson, 526 N.W.2d 384, 387 (Minn.App.1995). In Wilson, we noted that social security benefits, supplemental security income, veterans benefits, and railroad retirement benefits are all considered “income and resources attributable to the child.” Wilson, 526 N.W.2d at 387 (discussing Minn.Stat. § 260.251, subd. 1(b) (1990 & 1992)). We concluded that the adoption subsidy is similar to those resources “because none of these payments would be made if there were no child.” Id. Just as the adoption subsidy is considered a resource of the child for purposes of reimbursing the county for out-of-home placement, the adoption subsidy is a resource of the child for purposes of determining child support.

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Bluebook (online)
664 N.W.2d 887, 2003 Minn. App. LEXIS 871, 2003 WL 21694558, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/strandberg-v-strandberg-minnctapp-2003.