In re the Marriage of Simmons
In re the Marriage of Simmons
Opinion
Bruce Simmons appeals from a modification decree increasing his child support obligation. The record reflects Bruce and Ashley Simmons divorced in 2009. Bruce was originally ordered to pay $615 per month in child support for the parties' two children. After a series of modification actions, Bruce's support obligation was reduced to $450 per month. Bruce has three adult children from a prior marriage. Although he does not have an ongoing child support obligation for these children, he was ordered to pay $474 per month in delinquent child support. Ashley filed for the present modification action in January 2016. The matter was tried to the district court on stipulated facts on the following issue: "what, if any, credit should be given against Bruce Wayne Simmons' income ... for back support owed for his children from his first marriage." The district court found Bruce was not entitled to any reduction in his child support obligation based on payments owed to his first wife for delinquent child support. The district court ordered Bruce pay child support in the amount of $710.21 per month plus $150.00 per month for cash medical support.
We review the decision to modify a dissolution decree de novo.
See
In re Marriage of Mihm
,
Bruce argues the district court erred in concluding the amount paid for delinquent support should not be used as a deduction in determining his net monthly income. We disagree. Iowa Court Rule 9.5 provides, "In the guidelines the term 'net monthly income' means gross monthly income less deductions for the following: ... (8) Prior obligation of child support and spouse support actually paid pursuant to court or administrative order." Iowa Ct. R. 9.5(8). In interpreting this rule, our supreme court has unambiguously concluded "payments made for arrearages in child support are not to be deducted from gross income when determining net income. We do not believe it makes any difference whether the payments are for an obligation from a prior case."
State ex rel. Davis by Eddins v. Bemer
,
Bruce next argues federal law limits the total amount of child support a party must pay. He relies on Title 15, section 1673(b)(2) (2016) of the United States Code. That provision provides that:
The maximum part of the aggregate disposable earnings of an individual for any workweek which is subject to garnishment to enforce any order for the support of any person shall not exceed-
(A) where such individual is supporting his spouse or dependent child (other than a spouse or child with respect to whose support such order is used), 50 per centum of such individual's disposable earnings for that week; and
(B) where such individual is not supporting such a spouse or dependent child described in clause (A), 60 per centum of such individual's disposable earnings for that week;
except that, with respect to the disposable earnings of any individual for any workweek, the 50 per centum specified in clause (A) shall be deemed to be 55 per centum and the 60 per centum specified in clause (B) shall be deemed to be 65 per centum, if and to the extent that such earnings are subject to garnishment to enforce a support order with respect to a period which is prior to the twelve-week period which ends with the beginning of such workweek.
Bruce's construction of this provision of misplaced. While wage-withholding orders to collect child support are garnishments within the meaning of the federal code,
see
Koethe v. Johnson
,
Finally, Bruce claims a deviation from the child support guidelines is necessary in this case to avoid substantial injustice due to his significant monthly payments for back support. "Our legislature has established a rebuttable presumption that our child support guidelines yield the proper amount of monthly support."
In re Marriage of McDermott
,
In this case, the district court found "[e]quity does not support ordering a variance from the guidelines that allows Bruce to pay less child support ... simply because he failed to pay child support he owed [his first wife] in a timely manner when it was owed to her." We agree. First, other than Bruce's conclusory statement he would suffer an injustice in the absence of a deviation from the guidelines, he has not provided any evidence he would suffer an economic injustice. Second, Bruce seeks to limit his present support obligation merely because he was delinquent in paying his prior support obligation. As the supreme court has noted, a payor should not benefit from his prior failure to pay support as ordered in a prior case.
See
State ex rel. Davis,
For these reasons, we affirm the modification decision of the district court in all respects.
AFFIRMED.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.