Butta v. Realbuto

214 A.D.3d 973

185 N.Y.S.3d 785

In the Matter of Christine M. BUTTA, appellant,

v.Cary G. REALBUTO, respondent.

(Proceeding No. 1)

In the Matter of Cary G. Realbuto, respondent,

v.Christine M. Butta, appellant.

(Proceeding No. 2)

2022-03512

Docket Nos. F-16964-14/19D, F-16964-14/19E, F-16964-14/20F

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

Submitted—March 7, 2023

March 29, 2023

Judd & Moss, P.C., Ronkonkoma, NY (Francine H. Moss of counsel), for appellant.

Kristiana L. Gomes Attorney at Law, PLLC, Hauppauge, NY, for respondent.

FRANCESCA E. CONNOLLY, J.P., PAUL WOOTEN, WILLIAM G. FORD, JANICE A. TAYLOR, JJ.

DECISION & ORDER

In related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 4, the mother appeals from an order of the Family Court, Suffolk County (Paul M. Hensley, J.), dated March 24, 2022. The order, insofar as appealed from, granted the father's objections to so much of an order of the same court (Darlene Jorif–Mangane, S.M.) dated January 26, 2022, as, after a hearing, directed the mother to pay basic child support in the sum of $785.40 per month and thereupon, in effect, vacated that portion of the order dated January 26, 2022, and directed the mother to pay basic child support in the sum of $1,823.16 per month.

ORDERED that the order dated March 24, 2022, is reversed insofar as appealed from, on the law and the facts, with costs, the father's objections to so much of the order of dated January 26, 2022, as directed the mother to pay basic child support in the sum of $785.40 per month are denied, and that portion of the order dated January 26, 2022, is reinstated.

The parties are the parents of one child, born in 2009. In 2014, the father was awarded sole custody of the child (see Matter of Realbuto v. Butta, 134 A.D.3d 1041, 21 N.Y.S.3d 690 ). In an order dated June 30, 2015, the Family Court, inter alia, directed the mother to pay basic child support in the sum of $2,127 per month.

The mother subsequently filed a petition for a downward modification of her child support obligation, and the father filed a petition for an upward modification of the mother's child support obligation. After a hearing, in an order dated January 26, 2022, the Support Magistrate, inter alia, directed the mother to pay basic child support in the sum of $785.40 per month. The Support Magistrate calculated the child support obligation based on the parties’ combined income only up to the statutory cap of $154,000 (see Family Ct Act § 413[1][c][3] ).

The father filed objections to the Support Magistrate's order, arguing, inter alia, that the Support Magistrate erred in failing to calculate the basic child support on the combined parental income over the statutory cap. The Family Court granted the father's objections to so much of the Support Magistrate's order as directed the mother to pay basic child support in the sum of $785.40 per month, determining that the Support Magistrate should have used a combined parental income exceeding the statutory cap in calculating the mother's basic child support obligation. The court directed the mother to pay basic child support in the sum of $1,823.16 per month. The mother appeals.

The Child Support Standards Act " ‘sets forth a formula for calculating child support by applying a designated statutory percentage, based upon the number of children to be supported, to combined parental income up to a particular ceiling’ " ( Matter of Peddycoart v. MacKay, 145 A.D.3d 1081, 1083, 45 N.Y.S.3d 135, quoting Matter of Freeman v. Freeman, 71 A.D.3d 1143, 1144, 898 N.Y.S.2d 65 ). "Where ... the combined parental income exceeds the statutory cap, in fixing the basic child support obligation on income over the cap, the court has the discretion to apply the factors set forth in Family Court Act § 413(1)(f), or to apply the statutory percentages, or to apply both" ( Matter of Good v. Ricardo, 189 A.D.3d 830, 831, 136 N.Y.S.3d 472, citing Family Ct Act § 413[1][c][3] ; see Matter of Giraldo v. Fernandez, 199 A.D.3d 796, 798–799, 158 N.Y.S.3d 149 ; Matter of Calta v. Hoagland, 167 A.D.3d 598, 89 N.Y.S.3d 247 ). "However, the Family Court must articulate an explanation of the basis for its calculation of child support based on parental income in excess of the statutory cap" ( Matter of Peddycoart v. MacKay, 145 A.D.3d at 1084, 45 N.Y.S.3d 135 ; see Matter of Keith v. Lawrence, 113 A.D.3d 615, 616, 978 N.Y.S.2d 316 ). "This articulation should reflect ‘a careful consideration of the stated basis for its exercise of discretion, the parties’ circumstances, and its reasoning why there [should or] should not be a departure from the prescribed percentage’ " ( Matter of Peddycoart v. MacKay, 145 A.D.3d at 1084, 45 N.Y.S.3d 135, quoting ...