T.M. v. J.K.

54 Misc. 3d 195, 39 N.Y.S.3d 722
CourtNew York City Family Court
DecidedOctober 4, 2016
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 54 Misc. 3d 195 (T.M. v. J.K.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York City Family Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
T.M. v. J.K., 54 Misc. 3d 195, 39 N.Y.S.3d 722 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2016).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Stephen D. Aronson, J.

This decision holds that in the absence of some other compelling factor, where a noncustodial parent’s child spends 33% to 40% of the time with that parent, a deviation in child support from the presumptively correct amount is not warranted.

The petitioner T.M. (petitioner or mother) and the respondent J.K. (respondent or father) are the biological parents of one child, T.K., born xx/xx/2001. The mother filed a petition seeking child support, and a hearing was held on May 2 and 24, 2016. Following the hearing, the Support Magistrate issued findings of fact dated June 15, 2016, resulting in an order dated August 1, 2016. The Support Magistrate concluded that the respondent’s biweekly support obligation according to the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) is $396. However, the Support Magistrate also found the application of the CSSA to be inappropriate based upon his conclusion that the child spends at least 35% to 40% of the time with respondent, stating, “This constitutes a significant time sufficient to justify deviation from the Act.”

The petitioner filed objections on August 26, 2016, alleging, in words or substance: there is a significant discrepancy in the parties’ financial resources; the Support Magistrate’s allocation of time with each parent was misplaced; and reliance by the Support Magistrate upon spending daytime hours was misplaced under Bast v Rossoff (91 NY2d 723 [1998]), and Matter of Somerville v Somerville (5 AD3d 878 [3d Dept 2004] [holding that allowing a downward modification based on the number of daytime hours spent with the child bears no logical relation to the purpose behind child support awards]). The respondent filed a response to the objections on September 9, 2016. He contends, in words or substance: the Support Magistrate followed the directives of Bast; the Support Magistrate correctly determined that the amount of support was unjust and inappropriate; petitioner’s reliance on Somerville was misplaced; and the Support Magistrate’s calculation of the time spent with the child by each parent was correctly determined.

[197]*197Analysis

In making a child support award, the support magistrate must initially determine the basic child support obligation under the CSSA and must then order the noncustodial parent to pay his or her pro rata share of the basic child support obligation unless it finds that amount to be unjust or inappropriate (Bast v Rossoff, 91 NY2d at 727). Here, the Support Magistrate concluded that the respondent’s net biweekly support obligation according to the CSSA was $396. The parties do not dispute this calculation (however, this court finds that this amount is incorrect). The petitioner disputes the Support Magistrate’s reduction of biweekly child support by $126 to $270.

Under the law, the court may depart or vary from the statutory guidelines based on a finding that the noncustodial parent’s pro rata share of the basic child support obligation is unjust or inappropriate (Domestic Relations Law § 240 [1-b] [f|). In order to deviate from the statutory formula, the court must specifically set forth the factors it considered and the reasons that it did not order the basic child support obligation (Family Ct Act § 413 [1] [g]). Such a finding must be based upon consideration of the factors enumerated at Domestic Relations Law § 240 (1-b) (f).

Here, the Support Magistrate mentioned all of these factors in the findings of fact but did not explain the factual basis underlying each factor. The petitioner asserts, in words or substance, that the record demonstrates that the Support Magistrate was not justified in reaching his conclusions. Specifically, she contends that the respondent has more disposable income, fewer expenses, and more resources. She also asserts that she has more debt, including a credit card balance (consisting of charges needed to cover her expenses) and a large school loan. She brought out on cross-examination that the respondent paid no child support (apparently by agreement) from 2006 through 2015.

The petitioner’s arguments are compelling. Her financial disclosure affidavit shows that she has student loans totaling $35,865, requiring a monthly payment of $300, and a $9,000 credit card balance requiring a monthly payment of $420. The testimony at the hearing showed that the respondent is able to bank 10% of his earnings in a 401(k) plan. The respondent’s financial disclosure affidavit shows a 401(k) balance of $210,000, a direct market access account balance of $29,000, [198]*198and an IRA balance of $20,000. Additionally, his gross income is $78,000, and petitioner’s is $72,092.80.

Upon a review of the objections and the rebuttal, this court may (i) remand one or more issues of fact to the support magistrate, (ii) make his or her own findings of fact and order, with or without holding a new hearing, or (iii) deny the objections (Family Ct Act § 439 [e]). Deference should be given to the decision of the support magistrate, who is in the best position to assess credibility of the witnesses and evidence proffered (Matter of Manocchio v Manocchio, 16 AD3d 1126 [4th Dept 2005]). Here, the only disputed testimony is related to the time each parent spent with the child. This issue was fully developed by the testimony and evidence submitted by the parties. The outcome advocated by the father does not significantly vary from the outcome advocated by the mother. Nevertheless, a family court can properly make its own findings of fact even though the findings may be contrary to the findings of the support magistrate (Matter of Hughes v Wasik, 224 AD2d 982 [4th Dept 1996]). Here, this court elects to make new findings of fact and issue an order without holding a new hearing.

Findings of Fact

1. The petitioner mother is the party with primary physical residence of the child. The parties entered into a consent agreement in August 2011 establishing custody and visitation. The parties agreed to joint custody, with primary physical residence to petitioner. Respondent’s basic visitation schedule consisted of three weekends per month, one night during the week (as agreed), and holidays and vacations (as agreed). For the 2015 calendar year, the evidence (particularly, respondent’s exhibit A) showed that the child spent about 33.74% of all hours with the father, and thus the child spent about 66.26% of all hours with the mother. Respondent’s exhibit A also showed that the child spent “40.27% of all days” with the father, but this percentage is skewed because some of the “days” were not overnights. Courts have declined to accord greater weight to the custodial days as compared to the overnight custodial periods (see Somerville at 880; Matter of Mitchell v Mitchell, 134 AD3d 1213, 1215 [3d Dept 2015]). Clearly, the petitioner is the party with primary physical residence of the child.

2. Petitioner’s annual gross income from all sources is $72,092.80. After deduction of Social Security and Medicare tax, petitioner’s net income for child support purposes is $66,578.

[199]*1993. Respondent’s annual gross income from all sources is $78,000. After deduction of Social Security and Medicare tax, respondent’s net income for child support purposes is $72,033.

4. The combined parental income is $138,611. Petitioner’s income represents 48%; respondent’s income represents 52%.

5.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
54 Misc. 3d 195, 39 N.Y.S.3d 722, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tm-v-jk-nycfamct-2016.