Rattan

BACKGROUND

Rattan and Prasad, the parents of two children, divorced in June 2010 pursuant to a judgment that terminated their marital status and reserved the family court’s jurisdiction over all other issues. The court ordered Prasad to pay monthly child support of $1,669 effective July 2010, based on his annual income of $80,000, and reserved jurisdiction to modify the award. On October 18, 2011, Prasad moved to modify the child support order.

1 After a number of delays, the motion was heard on April 4 and August 21, 2012, and January 2 and April 10, 2013.1 Both parties were represented by counsel. Both testified, and both provided the court with written closing arguments, and subsequently, objections to the court’s tentative decision. The court’s detailed statement of decision and order included the following findings. The children lived full time with their mother, Rattan. Prasad had not had visitation since October 2011. Rattan had received Social Security disability benefits of $2,300 per month since October, 2011. She remained totally disabled as of July 2013. We will quote at length the court’s findings on Prasad’s income and employment. “[Prasad] is the owner of…