      MEMORANDUM DECISION                                                      FILED
                                                                          Apr 14 2016, 9:30 am
      Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
      Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as                             CLERK
                                                                           Indiana Supreme Court
      precedent or cited before any court except for the                      Court of Appeals
                                                                                and Tax Court
      purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata,
      collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.



      ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
      Laurie Baiden Bumb                                       Thomas A. Massey
      Bumb & Vowels, LLP                                       Massey Law Offices, LLC
      Evansville, Indiana                                      Evansville, Indiana



                                                   IN THE
          COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

      David Patrick Walters,                                    April 14, 2016

      Appellant-Respondent,                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                                74A04-1508-DR-1297
              v.                                                Appeal from the Spencer Circuit
                                                                Court
                                                                The Honorable Lucy Goffinet,
      Jessica R. (Walters) Wittman,                             Special Judge
      Appellee-Petitioner.                                      Cause No. 74C01-1006-DR-371




      Bradford, Judge.



                                            Case Summary
[1]   Appellant-Respondent David Walters (“Father”) and Appellee-Petitioner

      Jessica Wittman (“Mother”) (collectively, “the Parents”) divorced in 2010, the

      marriage having produced two minor children (“the Children”). The final


      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016        Page 1 of 18
      dissolution decree provided that the Parents would share physical and legal

      custody, that Mother would be responsible for 80% of the Children’s agreed

      controlled expenses,1 and that Mother would pay $400.00 per month in child

      support.


[2]   In June of 2014, Father moved to modify Mother’s child support obligation on

      the basis that Parents’ incomes had changed enough since the dissolution

      decree to warrant an increase. The next month, Mother petitioned to modify

      her child support obligation, proposing that she cover 100% of the Children’s

      controlled expenses in exchange for relieving her of any child support

      obligation and that she have the final decision-making authority in matters

      arising out of the Parents’ joint legal custody of the Children. Following a

      hearing, the trial court ordered that Mother be responsible for 100% of the

      Children’s controlled expenses and that she pay no more child support to

      Father. At the same time, the trial court denied Mother’s petition for final

      decision-making authority. Father appeals, contending that (1) several of the

      trial court’s findings of fact were erroneous and did not support the conclusions

      made thereon, (2) the trial court erred in altering child support obligations

      without completing a child support obligation worksheet (“Worksheet”), (3) the

      trial court ordered a deviation from the presumptive child-support amount




      1
        “Controlled expenses” are defined in the commentary to the Indiana Child Support Guidelines: “This type
      of expense for the child(ren) is typically paid by the custodial parent and is not transferred or duplicated.
      Controlled expenses are items like clothing, education, school books and supplies, ordinary uninsured health
      care and personal care.” Child Supp. G. 6 cmty. (“Parenting Time Credit”).

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016            Page 2 of 18
      without sufficient justification. For purposes of this appeal, we restate Father’s

      argument as whether the trial court erred in modifying Mother’s child support

      modification. Mother cross-appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in

      denying her request to have final decision-making authority for issues involving

      the Children. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with instructions.



                            Facts and Procedural History
[3]   On October 27, 2010, the marriage of Mother and Father was dissolved by the

      filing of an agreed decree (“the Decree”). At the time of the dissolution,

      Mother was self-employed as a dentist with a solo practice in Santa Claus,

      Indiana, with a gross income of $113,000.00, while Father was a high school

      math teacher with a gross income of $30,000.00. Pursuant to the Decree,

      Father received the marital residence, all equity therein, and a $20,000.00

      property settlement from Mother. The parties agreed to share joint physical

      and legal custody of the Children, who were five and three at the time. Mother

      agreed to pay $400.00 per month in child support and 80% “of the children’s

      agreed expenses for clothing, education, and agreed extracurricular activities.”

      Appellant’s App. p. 14.


[4]   On July 9, 2014, Father sent Mother an email that stated, inter alia, “I am

      making clear that you may no longer assume my agreement to any clothing

      purchases[.]” Appellant’s App. p. 45. Father’s objections stemmed from

      Mother’s expenditures of approximately $1000.00 for children’s clothing over

      the previous two months. Communication between the parties over the next

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 3 of 18
      several months became “sassy[.]” Tr. p. 46. Mother began sending Father

      $400.00 checks at the beginning of each of month with a summary of Father’s

      20% obligation instead of subtracting Father’s obligation for the previous month

      from the check, as had been the parties’ practice to that point. From July to

      December of 2014, Mother paid her $400.00 child support obligation to Father

      and submitted a monthly summary of expenses. Father, however, as of

      January of 2015, had not paid Mother his 20% share of controlled expenses

      since June of 2014.


[5]   Meanwhile, on June 11, 2014, Father petitioned the trial court to modify

      Mother’s child support obligation on the basis that the parties’ incomes had

      changed. On July 14, 2014, Mother petitioned the trial court to modify the

      terms of the Decree so that she was responsible for 100% of the Children’s

      controlled expenses, no longer had any child support obligation, and had final

      decision-making authority in the event of a disagreement with Father over joint

      legal issues.


[6]   The trial court held a hearing on the parties’ petitions on October 30, 2014, and

      January 23, 2015. Father testified that he was still employed as a high school

      teacher, with a yearly salary of $35,757.00. Mother submitted two Worksheets,

      one listing her 2013 income as $153,167.00 and the other listing an estimated

      income of $150,446.00 for 2014. The first Worksheet submitted by Mother

      indicated a presumptive weekly child support obligation for her of $162.61 and




      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 4 of 18
      the second a presumptive weekly obligation of $177.42.2 In a mortgage loan

      application submitted in November of 2013, Mother indicated monthly gross

      receipts from her dental practice of $14,605.00, or over $175,000.00 annually.

      Mother acknowledged that she was 100% owner of her dental practice and had

      withdrawn money for personal use from time to time, including $15,000.00 for

      a down payment on a house and $16,000.00 for other purposes.


[7]   For his part, Father submitted three Worksheets, all listing Mother’s annual

      income as $175,000.00, one of which, Exhibit E, translated to a presumptive

      weekly child support obligation of $199.40 for Mother. Exhibit E was prepared

      based on the assumptions that Mother would be responsible for all controlled

      expenses and that Father would receive a parenting time credit. Father’s

      Exhibits F and G indicated presumptive weekly child support obligations of

      $274.40 and $129.97, respectively. Mother argued she should become

      responsible for 100% of the Children’s controlled expenses but that her child

      support obligation should also be eliminated. Mother testified that she believed

      that if her proposal were accepted, Father would have no cause for worry or

      concern about Mother’s purchases for the Children.




      2
        Mother’s two submitted Worksheets included a $70.00 expense for child care which (1) increased the total
      child support obligation of the parties, (2) she listed as a credit, and (3) she acknowledged at the hearing was
      no longer applicable. Mother did not recalculate her final totals to reflect this, but a recalculation would have
      resulted in a somewhat increased child support obligation for Mother.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016               Page 5 of 18
[8]   On May 26, 2015, the trial court issued its order on the parties’ petitions, which

      provides as follows:


              COMES NOW THE COURT, having heard all pending issues
              in open court on October 30, 2014 and January 23, 2015, having
              reviewed evidence, motions and memorandum submitted by
              both parties, the COURT NOW FINDS AS FOLLOWS:
                                           *        *       *        *
              7.       The Mother was responsible for eighty percent (80%) and
                       the Father twenty percent (20%) of the children’s agreed
                       expenses for clothing, education, and extracurricular
                       activities that the parties agreed too [sic].
              8.       The Mother paid the Father Four Hundred Dollars
                       ($400.00) per month in child support. The amount was an
                       agreed deviation.
              9.       Each month from the date of the final divorce decree until
                       the Summer of 2014 the Mother would write the Father a
                       check for child support minus the twenty percent (20%)
                       obligation he would owe on the children’s agreed
                       expenses. The Mother would provide a summary of the
                       expenses with the check.
              10.      The Father accepted and cashed the checks from October
                       2010 until the summer of 2014.
              11.      During this time Father never expressed that he thought
                       the purchases the Mother made for the children were
                       unnecessary or excessive.
              12.      Father testified that up until the summer of 2014 the
                       procedure for payment of support after the deduction was
                       made without complaint.
              13.      In July of 2014, after filing a Petition to Modify Child
                       Support, Father stated to Mother that he would no longer
                       agree to her purchasing clothing for the children.
              14.      Father testified that Mother’s spending was excessive.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 6 of 18
         15.      Mother testified that her spending was reasonable and in
                  no way deviated from how she purchased for the children
                  in the past.
         16.      From July 2014 until December 2014 Mother paid Father
                  Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) in child support. She also
                  provided a summary of expenses for the children each
                  month.
         17.      Father testified that he has not reimbursed Mother twenty
                  percent (20%) of the expenses between July 2014 and
                  December 2014.
         18.      Mother admits that there have been months when her
                  child support payment was late.
         19.      There has been a significant breakdown in communication
                  between the parties since July of 2014.
         20.      Father testified that since the date of the divorce decree he
                  has incurred over Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) in
                  credit card debt.
         21.      Father testified that he intends to purchase a five (5)
                  bedroom house from his parents.
         22.      Mother testified that she has purchased a four (4) bedroom
                  house.
         23.      Both parties continue to reside in Santa Claus, Indiana in
                  very close proximity to each other.
         24.      Father testified that he wants to live in a home comparable
                  to Mother’s.
         25.      Father testified that his salary has “sky rocketed” since the
                  date of the final divorce decree.[3]




3
  During cross-examination, when Mother’s counsel asked Father if his income had increased since the
divorce, Father replied, “Like a sky rocket.” Tr. p. 81. In context, it is apparent that Father’s description of
the increase in his salary, which rose from $30,000.00 to approximately $36,000.00 in four years, was almost
certainly sarcastic.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016               Page 7 of 18
        26.      Mother testified that her salary has increased since the date
                 of the final divorce decree.
        27.      The Father has been very unwilling to communicate with
                 Mother in any matter that financially concerns the
                 children.
        28.      The Mother wants to be one hundred percent (100%)
                 responsible for all of the children’s clothing,
                 extracurricular, educational, child care, health insurance,
                 and any uninsured medical dental, optometric,
                 orthodontic and prescription expenses.
        29.      The Mother is requesting no child support be due and
                 owing since she will be paying one hundred percent
                 (100%) of the children’s expenses.
        30.      The Father’s only expense for the children would be for
                 their food and entertainment while they were with him.
        31.      The Father offered no testimony as to why this
                 arrangement would not be in the best interest of the
                 children.
        32.      The Father testified that he wants child support to be
                 increased and asked the Court to consider what was fair.
        33.      The Father’s testimony was very conflicting as to what a
                 fair increased child support amount would be.
        34.      The court finds this case unique in the circumstances in
                 that the parties have never argued over unnecessary
                 expenses under their negative child support calculation
                 and their children have enjoyed a lifestyle similar to that as
                 which they would have had if the parties had not divorced.
        COURT NOW CONCLUDES AS FOLLOWS:
        1.       The parties currently live in the same neighborhood.
        2.       The parties exercise shared physical custody of the
                 children.
        3.       The parties no longer communicate in a way that is in the
                 best interest of the children regarding finances.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 8 of 18
        4.       Given the unique circumstances of this case, the Mother
                 providing for one hundred percent (100%) of the children’s
                 expenses would be in the best interest of the children and
                 would most likely put the children in a situation most
                 similar to that as if the parents had not divorced.
        5.       The Father’s increased income would more than provide
                 for the needs of the children, such as entertainment and
                 food, while they are in his care.
        6.       Each party has sufficient means to pay their own attorney
                 fees.
        7.       Father has not met his burden of proof in showing a need
                 for increased child support due and owing to him in this
                 case due to the unique circumstances in this matter and
                 Mother’s willingness to pay one hundred percent (100%)
                 of the children’s expenses.
        8.       Neither party is found in direct contempt of Court.
        9.       A deviation in the child support guidelines is in the best
                 interest and welfare of the children in that [M]other’s
                 proposal would avoid conflict between the parties and
                 allow the children to maintain a lifestyle in which they are
                 accustomed and which they would have enjoyed had the
                 parties not divorced.
        COURT NOW ORDERS AS FOLLOWS:
        1.       Each party shall be responsible for their own attorney fees.
        2.       The Mother’s shall be responsible to pay for one hundred
                 percent (100%) of the children’s expenses regarding
                 education, clothing, extracurricular activities, child care,
                 health insurance and all uninsured medical expenses
                 including medical, dental, optometric, orthodontic, and
                 prescription expenses.
        3.       Mother is no longer required to pay Father monthly child
                 support.
        4.       Neither party is in contempt of Court.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 9 of 18
               5.       Father’s Petition for Modification of Child Support is
                        Denied.
               6.       Mother’s Petition for Joint Legal Custody but final
                        decision Making is Denied.
               7.       The Court declines to Order monetary awards at this time.
               8.       All prior Orders of the Court shall remain in effect.
                        SO ORDERED THIS 26TH DAY OF MAY, 2015
       Appellant’s Br. pp. 36-39.


                                  Discussion and Decision
                       I. Direct Appeal Issue—Child Support
[9]            On review, “[a] trial court’s calculation of child support is
               presumptively valid.” Young v. Young, 891 N.E.2d 1045, 1047
               (Ind. 2008) (citing Kondamuri v. Kondamuri, 852 N.E.2d 939, 949
               (Ind. Ct. App. 2006)). “[R]eversal of a trial court’s child support
               order deviating from the appropriate guideline amount is merited
               only where the trial court’s determination is clearly against the
               logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before the trial
               court.” Kinsey v. Kinsey, 640 N.E.2d 42, 43 (Ind. 1994) (citing
               Humphrey v. Woods, 583 N.E.2d 133, 134 (Ind. 1991)). Upon the
               review of a modification order, “only evidence and reasonable
               inferences favorable to the judgment are considered.” Kinsey,
               640 N.E.2d at 44 (string citation omitted). The order will only be
               set aside if clearly erroneous. Id.
       Bogner v. Bogner, 29 N.E.3d 733, 738 (Ind. 2015).


[10]   Father contends that the trial court deviated from what the child support order

       would be pursuant to the Indiana Child Support Guidelines (“the Guidelines”)

       without sufficient justification. Mother argues that the deviation is justified.

       The trial court seemed to base its disposition on three conclusions: (1) its order

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 10 of 18
       would decrease conflict between the parties, (2) it would allow the Children to

       have a lifestyle similar to the one they would have enjoyed had the parties not

       divorced, and (3) Father’s increased income would allow him to easily provide

       for the Children’s food and entertainment while staying with him.


[11]   As mentioned, both parties acknowledge that the trial court’s order represents a

       deviation from the Guidelines. The question, then, is whether the Guidelines’

       rebuttable presumption regarding child support has been sufficiently rebutted.


               Although application of the Guidelines yields a figure that
               becomes a rebuttable presumption, there is room for flexibility.
               Guidelines are not immutable, black letter law. A strict and
               totally inflexible application of the Guidelines to all cases can
               easily lead to harsh and unreasonable results. If a judge believes
               that in a particular case application of the Guideline amount
               would be unreasonable, unjust, or inappropriate, a finding must
               be made that sets forth the reason for deviating from the
               Guideline amount. The finding need not be as formal as
               Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law; the finding need only
               articulate the judge’s reasoning.
       Child Supp. G. 1 cmty.


                                      A. Controlled Expenses
[12]   As an initial matter, we note that neither Mother nor Father challenges the trial

       court’s assignment of 100% of controlled expenses to Mother. In any event, we

       conclude that this assignment was justified by the trial court’s findings and

       conclusions that such an assignment would ease conflict between the parties.

       To the extent that the parties are in conflict, that conflict appears to be based

       almost entirely on Father’s objections to some of Mother’s spending on

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 11 of 18
       controlled expenses. Assigning 100% of the controlled expenses to Mother

       removes this source of conflict and strikes us as entirely reasonable under the

       circumstances.


                                     B. Parenting Time Credit
[13]   Father contends that the trial court erred in failing to award him the parenting

       time credit. Despite Father specifically arguing that he should be awarded the

       parenting time credit if Mother were assigned all of the Children’s controlled

       expenses, the trial court did not award the credit to Father, nor did it

       specifically explain why it did not do so. Guideline 6 provides, in its entirety,

       that “[a] credit should be awarded for the number of overnights each year that

       the child(ren) spend with the noncustodial parent.” Commentary provides

       considerable guidance as to how the somewhat bare-bones Guideline 6 should

       be applied in situations, such as this, where parenting time is equally shared:


               Child Support When Parenting Time is Equally Shared. A
               frequent source of confusion in determining child support arises
               in cases where parents equally share the parenting time with the
               children. Parenting time is considered equally shared when it is
               181 to 183 overnights per year. To determine child support in
               these cases, either the mother or father must be designated as the
               parent who will pay the controlled expenses. Then, the other
               parent is given the parenting time credit. The controlled
               expenses remain the sole obligation of the parent for whom the
               parenting time credit is not calculated.
               When both parents equally share parenting time, the court must
               determine which parent will pay the controlled expenses. If, for
               example, father is the parent paying controlled expenses, the
               parenting time credit will be awarded to the mother.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 12 of 18
                                                *        *        *        *
                 Once the court assigns responsibility for these controlled
                 expenses, the court should award the other parent the parenting
                 time credit. When the assignment of the controlled expenses
                 occurs, calculation of the child support in shared custody
                 situations is fairly basic, and is completed by application of the
                 remainder of these Guidelines.
[14]   While we recognize that the Guidelines are not black letter law, the

       commentary to Guideline 6 is particularly emphatic that when one parent is

       made responsible for all controlled expenses, the other is to be given the

       parenting time credit. This was not done here, and we conclude that the trial

       court’s apparent reasons for failing to do so are insufficient.


[15]   The trial court seems to have eliminated Mother’s child support obligation, at

       least in part, based on its conclusion that Father’s income had increased

       significantly since the dissolution. The record and Guidelines, however, do not

       support this basis. While Father’s income did increase from 2010 to 2014, the

       increase can only be described as modest and, in any event, fell far short of

       keeping pace with the increase in Mother’s income over the same period.

       Father’s yearly income increased from $30,000.00 in 2010 to $35,757.00 in

       2014, an increase of 19%, or less than 5% a year. Over the same period,

       Mother’s yearly income increased from $113,000.00 to somewhere in the

       neighborhood of $150,000.00 to $175,000.00,4 an increase of 33% to 55%, or

       approximately 8% to 14% a year. Over the four years at issue, Father’s income



       4
           The trial court made no finding regarding Mother’s yearly salary.


       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 13 of 18
       as a percentage of weekly adjusted income for both parties decreased from 21%

       to as little at 17%. In any event, even if Father’s income had increased

       substantially since the dissolution, the increase would be reflected in an increase

       of his basic child support obligation and a corresponding decrease in his

       parenting time credit. The Guidelines do not indicate that complete

       elimination of the parenting time credit is warranted in this case.


[16]   The trial court seemingly also eliminated Mother’s child support obligation in

       order to compensate her for assumption of 100% of the Children’s controlled

       expenses. This basis is also not supported by the record or the Guidelines. The

       record indicates that Father’s 20% share of controlled expenses averaged

       $122.05 per month from January of 2011 to June of 2014, far less than the

       $400.00 per month Mother was paying in child support. In other words,

       eliminating Mother’s child support obligation entirely as compensation for her

       assumption of Father’s 20% of controlled costs results in a windfall for Mother.


[17]   The trial court’s disposition was seemingly based only on consideration of the

       controlled expenses while failing to properly take into account the two other

       categories of parenting expenses—transferred and duplicated—that the

       parenting time credit is specifically designed to account for.


               Transferred Expenses. This type of expense is incurred only
               when the child(ren) reside(s) with a parent and these expenses are
               “transferred” with the child(ren) as they move from one parent’s
               residence to the other. Examples of this type of expense are food
               and the major portion of spending for transportation. When
               spending is transferred from one parent to the other parent, the

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 14 of 18
        other parent should be given a credit against that parent's child
        support obligation since this type of expense is included in the
        support calculation schedules. When parents equally share in the
        parenting, an assumption is made that 35% of the Basic Child
        Support Obligation reflects “transferred” expenses. The amount
        of expenses transferred from one parent to the other will depend
        upon the number of overnights the child(ren) spend(s) with each
        parent.
        Duplicated Fixed Expenses. This type of expense is incurred
        when two households are maintained for the child(ren). An
        example of this type of expense is shelter costs which are not
        transferred when the child(ren) move(s) from one parent's
        residence to the other but remain fixed in each parent's
        household and represent duplicated expenditures. The fixed
        expense of the parent who has primary physical custody is
        included in the Guideline support schedules. However, the fixed
        expense of the other parent is not included in the support
        schedules but represents an increase in the total cost of raising the
        child(ren) attributed to the parenting time plan. Both parents
        should share in these additional costs.
        When parents equally share in the parenting, an assumption is
        made that 50% of the Basic Child Support Obligation will be
        “duplicated.”
Child Supp. G. 6 cmty. Put another way, while the Guidelines contemplate

that transferred and duplicated expenses will be shared by parents (i.e., 85% of

each parent’s basic child support obligation will be transferred and duplicated

expenses), the Guidelines do not contemplate that those expenses will be shared

equally. Because we conclude that neither the record in this case nor the

Guidelines supports the denial of the parenting time credit to Father, we reverse

that portion of the trial court’s order and remand with instructions to

recalculate the parties’ child support obligations.


Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 15 of 18
                                  C. Child Support Calculation
[18]   As previously mentioned, both Mother and Father submitted multiple

       Worksheets, all of which indicated an obligation by Mother, with Mother’s

       Worksheets indicating a weekly obligation of either $162.61 or $177.42 and

       Father’s indicating a weekly obligation of either $199.40, $274.40, or $129.97.

       Father primarily advocated adoption of the Worksheet that produced a weekly

       obligation of $199.40, as that was based upon awarding him the parenting time

       credit, which we have already concluded should have been done.


[19]   The differences between the obligations generated by Father’s Exhibit E and

       Mother’s two submissions reflects the use of different values for Father’s and

       Mother’s weekly gross incomes and what amount Mother pays for the

       Children’s health insurance. As for Father’s weekly gross income, the figure of

       $35,757.00 for Father’s yearly income is not disputed and should be used in any

       child support calculations.5 Mother’s weekly gross income is disputed,

       however. Mother presented evidence that her estimated yearly income was

       approximately $150,000.00 for 2014 while Father presented evidence that

       Mother submitted a mortgage loan application in late 2013 listing the yearly

       receipts from her dental practice at $175,000.00. On remand, it will be

       necessary for the trial court to make a finding regarding Mother’s weekly gross

       income. Finally, Mother lists the weekly amount she pays for the Children’s




       5
         Mother admitted at the hearing that the $36,000.00 figure used on her worksheets was an estimate. (Tr.
       138).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016         Page 16 of 18
       health insurance premiums as $64.62, while Father lists it as $65.00. It will be

       necessary to determine an exact amount for purposes of recalculating the

       parties’ child support obligations.


[20]   In summary, because we have concluded that the trial court erred in denying

       Father the parenting time credit, we reverse the trial court’s order eliminating

       Mother’s child support obligation and remand for recalculation. If, after

       recalculation, the trial court determines that imposing the presumptive child

       support “would be unreasonable, unjust, or inappropriate, a finding must be

       made that sets forth the reason for deviating from the Guideline amount.”

       Child Supp. G. 1 cmty. We recognize that the Guidelines afford the trial court

       considerable flexibility for deviation from the presumptive child support

       obligation, provided that the trial court’s reasoning is articulated. See id.


                               II. Cross-Appeal Issue—Final
                                 Decision Making Authority
[21]   Mother contends that the trial court erred in denying her request for final

       decision making authority over “joint legal issues” having to do with the

       Children. Appellant’s App. p. 26. Mother argues that Father’s alleged

       unreasonableness concerning the dispute over her clothing purchases for the

       Children necessitates giving her the final say in all disputes arising from the

       parties’ joint legal custody. We cannot agree. The record indicates that the

       dispute between Mother and Father was limited to her spending on clothing, a

       relatively minor dispute that should be resolved by assigning 100% of the


       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 17 of 18
       controlled expenses to Mother. The trial court did not err in denying Mother’s

       request for final decision making authority over all joint custody issues.



                                               Conclusion
[22]   We conclude that the trial court correctly assigned 100% of the controlled

       expenses to Mother. We conclude, however, that the trial court erred in

       granting Mother’s motion to eliminate her child support obligation in return.

       Specifically, the trial court erred in denying Father the parenting time credit.

       Consequently, we remand with instructions to recalculate the parties’ child

       support obligations consistent with this memorandum decision. Finally, we

       conclude that the trial court did not err in denying Mother’s request for final

       decision making authority over all joint custody issues.


[23]   We affirm the judgment of the trial court in part, reverse in part, and remand

       with instructions.


[24]   Bailey, J., and Altice, J., concur.




       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 74A04-1508-DR-1297 | April 14, 2016   Page 18 of 18
