In Re Marriage of Carter
Opinion
Opinion
In this case we hold that when ordering child support the trial court lacks discretion to vary from the presumptively correct amount, calculated by applying the algebraic formula in the statute, unless one or more of the statutorily enumerated rebuttal factors is found to exist.
Garry Carter, in propria persona, appeals from an order denying his motion to modify child support and to order spousal support. He claims the trial court failed to follow the Statewide Uniform Guidelines for child support (Civ. Code, § 4720 et seq. [1] ), and erroneously ruled his spousal support claim was moot.
The marriage of Garry and Wendy Carter (now Neustrup) [2] was dissolved in January 1990. On February 26, 1991, the trial court issued a judgment on reserved issues, ordering Garry to pay Wendy child support in the amount of $300 per month ($150 per child). The court further ordered that neither party receive spousal support, but reserved jurisdiction on this issue until July 31, 1992, at which time jurisdiction over this issue terminated. We affirmed the judgment in an unpublished opinion filed ( In re Marriage of Carter (May 27, 1992) A053421).