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Child Support With Split Custody of Children in AZ | Hildebrand Law, PC

Mon 17th Apr, 2017 Arizona Child Support Laws

In Arizona like in most states, child support rises as the number of children rises. But under the Guidelines, the support for children is not double the support for one. Rather, support goes up incrementally and depends on the parenting time spent with each parent.

So how do you calculate child support under the Guidelines for three children when only two are splitting time between parents? In Mitton v. Mitton, No. 1 CA-CV 15-0769FC, decided April 11, 2017, the Arizona Court of Appeals considered this issue.

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Facts and Procedure

Mr. Mitton and Mrs. Mitton divorced in 2013. The couple had three children. Their daughter is currently 17 years old, and the twin sons are ten years old. The divorce decree split parenting time equally between them. It assigned Mr. Mitton child support based on that arrangement.

In 2015, the couple agreed that their daughter would live full-time with Mrs. Mitton. They needed to modify child support to reflect the change. Mrs. Mitton argued she should get more child support since she had increased parenting time. The court ordered the parties to file child support worksheets setting out their positions.

Mrs. Mitton filed two worksheets. One of the worksheets was for the daughter living full-time with her. The other was for the two boys, with parenting time divided equally. Mr. Mitton objected to this, arguing that Mrs. Mitton’s method overstated child support. He filed one child support worksheet for the three children.

The court entered a child support amount in the sum of Mr. Mitton’s worksheets. Mrs. Mitton appealed to the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Income Shares Method of Child Support

Arizona Child Support Guidelines are based on an “income shares” model. The total child support amount reflects money that would have been spent on the children had the couple remained married. Each parent pays a proportionate share.

Only one worksheet is filled in a child custody no matter how many children are involved. This case involved the issue of how to calculate child support if one child lives entirely with one parent while other kids share parenting time. Mrs. Mitton argues for two different worksheets, while Mr. Mitton argues for one.

The Court noted that no prior Arizona cases addressed this issue. However, other states that use an “income shares” child support model have considered it. The Court reviewed decisions from Indiana, Colorado, and Maine containing similar issues.

All three jurisdictions rejected the idea of calculating child support with two worksheets. The court said, overstated the child support. It calculated one child’s support as if she were the sole child. Then it added that “single child” support amount to the sum of the other kids together.

Arizona Guidelines

Calculating Child Support With Split Custody in Arizona.

The Court of Appeals agreed with the courts in other income shares states. It noted that child support under this model is not one set amount multiplied by the number of children. Rather, it is incremental. The amount of support rises for the second child but does not double, since some costs are not duplicated with each child.

The Court said that it was unfair to calculate one child alone and add this amount to the other worksheet. It necessarily inflated the amount due. It ordered the superior court to prepare one worksheet for the three children.

It said that the court should adjust costs by determining the total amount of annual parenting time hours for each of the three children. In calculating child support, it should add up each parent’s total parenting time for all children, then divide that number by three to arrive at an average annual amount of parenting time.

Disposition

The Court of Appeals vacated the lower court decision and remanded to the superior court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

If you have questions about child support with split custody in an Arizona divorce case, you should seriously consider contacting the attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. Our Arizona child support and family law attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully representing clients in child support and family law cases.

Our family law firm has earned numerous awards such as US News and World Reports Best Arizona Family Law Firm, US News and World Report Best Divorce Attorneys, “Best of the Valley” by Arizona Foothills readers, and “Best Arizona Divorce Law Firms” by North Scottsdale Magazine.

Call us today at (480)305-8300 or reach out to us through our appointment scheduling form to schedule your personalized consultation and turn your Arizona child support or family law case around today.

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