Tsai v. Tien, 2007 Ca 00024 (3-3-2008)
Tsai v. Tien, 2007 Ca 00024 (3-3-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} The parties were married on June 24, 1988. Two children were born as issue of the marriage. Appellant filed a complaint for divorce on December 21, 2000. On June 28, 2002, the trial court issued a judgment entry and decree of divorce, incorporating the parties' separation agreement.
{¶ 3} On August 5, 2002, appellant filed a motion for modification of child support and spousal support. By judgment entry filed September 28, 2002, the trial court overruled the motion.
{¶ 4} On January 24, 2003, appellant again moved for modification of his child support and spousal support obligations. The matter proceeded to an evidentiary hearing before a magistrate on February 26, 2004. Appellant therein asserted, inter alia, that his annual income as a cardiologist had decreased from $519,000 to $436,964. Tr. at 49-52. Upon hearing the evidence, the magistrate recommended a reduction in appellant's child-support obligation from $2,488.20 to $2,114.26 per month, based on appellant's total income of $458,659. The magistrate denied the remainder of appellant's motion for modification of his spousal support obligation, finding no substantial change in the circumstances of the parties. However, the magistrate *Page 3 modified the parties' divorce decree provision, which had required that appellant maintain life insurance for the benefit of the parties' children until they reached the age of 25. On September 8, 2004, by judgment entry, the trial court approved and adopted the amended magistrate's decision, overruling the parties' objections.
{¶ 5} Appellant appealed the trial court's September 8, 2004 judgment entry, arguing the court had abused its discretion in refusing to modify the spousal support obligation where appellant's income "had decreased by $60,000, or 12%." See Tsai v. Tien,
{¶ 6} Upon review, this Court analyzed the pertinent statute, R.C.
{¶ 7} The trial court scheduled a hearing upon our remand, at which time the parties agreed that the evidence presented at the original hearing was sufficient. After hearing arguments of counsel and allowing for post-hearing briefs, the trial court issued a judgment entry on December 29, 2006, holding in pertinent part as follows: *Page 4
{¶ 8} "The court has now had the opportunity to review the entire record including the transcripts of the numerous proceedings in this matter. Upon remand, this Court does apply the standard directed by the Fifth District Court of Appeals consistent with the KINGSOLVER case. Specifically, there is a change of circumstances and the Court has reserved jurisdiction to affect the amount of spousal support, thus the jurisdictional threshold has been reached.
{¶ 9} "Upon due consideration of all the pertinent factors contained in ORC
{¶ 10} Appellant filed a notice of appeal therefrom on January 26, 2007. He herein raises the following sole Assignment of Error:
{¶ 11} "I. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN REFUSING TO MODIFY APPELLANT'S SPOUSAL SUPPORT OBLIGATION WHERE HIS INCOME HAD DECREASED BY $60,000, OR 12%."
{¶ 13} Modifications of spousal support are reviewable under an abuse-of-discretion standard. Booth v. Booth (1989),
{¶ 14} In the case sub judice, the trial court concluded upon remand that even though the original decree reserved jurisdiction and that a change of circumstances existed under the Kingsolver rationale, no change in spousal support would be presently justified. In its judgment entry, the trial court explicitly recited that it had reviewed the entire record, including the prior transcripts. The court further indicated that it had considered all of the pertinent factors in R.C.
{¶ 15} We note there is no intrinsic requirement for a trial court to list and comment upon each factor under R.C.
{¶ 16} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, Stark County, Ohio, is hereby affirmed.
*Page 7By: Wise, J. Gwin, P. J., and Edwards, J., concur.
Costs assessed to Appellant.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.