AI Generated Opinion Summaries

This summary was computer-generated without any editorial revision. It is not official, has not been checked for accuracy, and is NOT citable.

Facts

• The case involves a dispute between Eric Jones (Father) and Becky Jones (Mother) regarding the district court's order on child support, which deviated from the recommendations of the domestic relations hearing officer (DRHO) by reducing the child support amount and eliminating the recommended child support arrearages.

Procedural History

• [Not applicable or not found]

Parties' Submissions

• Mother: Argues that the district court failed to comply with statutory requirements in its order on child support, which reduced the recommended amount and eliminated arrearages.
• Father: Agrees that the district court's order could have been more detailed but asserts that the court justified its deviation from the child support guidelines by referencing an amended marital settlement agreement.

Legal Issues

• Whether the district court erred in deviating from the child support guidelines without providing sufficient written justification.
• Whether the district court failed to comply with statutory requirements in reducing the child support amount and eliminating arrearages recommended by the DRHO.

Disposition

• The decision of the district court is reversed and the case is remanded for further proceedings.

Reasons

• Per ATTREP, J. (HANISEE, C.J., and IVES, J., concurring): The district court erred by deviating from the child support guidelines without determining that application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate and without adequately explaining its reasons for such deviation. The court's order lacked sufficient reference to the amended marital settlement agreement that was significant to its decision, and Father's memorandum in opposition did not persuade the Court of Appeals that the district court's reference was sufficient to comply with statutory requirements. The district court also failed to provide a basis by which the method used to recalculate child support amounts and eliminate arrearages could be discerned, necessitating reversal and remand for proceedings consistent with statutory guidelines and judicial precedent (paras 1-4).