In the Matter of Sean Kendrigan and Melinda Kendrigan

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

SUPREME COURT

In Case No. 2018-0534, In the Matter of Sean Kendrigan
and Melinda Kendrigan, the court on July 12, 2019, issued the
following order:

Having considered the briefs and record submitted on appeal, we
conclude that oral argument is unnecessary in this case. See Sup. Ct. R. 18(1).
We affirm.

The respondent, Melinda Laro f/k/a Melinda Kendrigan, appeals an
order of the Circuit Court (Sadler, J.) modifying the child support obligation of
the petitioner, Sean Kendrigan, based upon a three-year review. See RSA 458-
C:7 (2018). She argues that the trial court erred by: (1) issuing a temporary
support order in the amount of $50 per month; (2) not awarding child support
based upon an imputed income under the child support guidelines after finding
that the petitioner is voluntarily underemployed; and (3) deviating downward
from the child support guidelines amount based upon its finding that awarding
child support at the amount required by the child support guidelines for the
imputed income level would, under the circumstances of the case, result in a
confiscatory order, see RSA 458-C:5, I(j) (2018).

The trial court has broad discretion to determine and order child
support. In the Matter of Hoyt & Hoyt, 171 N.H. 373, 376 (2018). Because the
trial court is in the best position to determine the parties’ needs and their
abilities to meet them, we will not overturn an order modifying support unless
it clearly appears from the evidence that the trial court unsustainably exercised
its discretion. In the Matter of Lynn & Lynn, 158 N.H. 615, 617 (2009).

In determining a parent’s gross income for purposes of determining child
support, the trial court may, “in its discretion, . . . consider as gross income the
difference between the amount a parent is earning and the amount a parent
has earned in cases where the parent voluntarily becomes . . . underemployed,
unless the parent is physically or mentally incapacitated.” RSA 458-C:2, IV(b)
(2018). Thus, even if a parent is voluntarily underemployed, it is still within
the trial court’s discretion not to impute income for child support purposes.
Lynn, 158 N.H. at 618. Likewise, it is still within the trial court’s discretion to
deviate from the child support guidelines if it finds that special circumstances
warrant the deviation. See id.; RSA 458-C:5 (2018).

As the appealing party, the respondent has the burden of demonstrating
reversible error. Gallo v. Traina, 166 N.H. 737, 740 (2014). Based upon our
review of the trial court’s order, the respondent’s challenges to it, the relevant
law, and the record submitted on appeal, we conclude that the respondent has
not demonstrated reversible error. See id.

Affirmed.

Lynn, C.J., and Hicks, Bassett, Hantz Marconi, and Donovan, JJ.,
concurred

Eileen Fox,
Clerk

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