Ex Parte St. Clair County Dept. of Human Resources

Jan 22, 1993

1920224

Versions:612 So. 2d 482

1993 WL 9697

1993 Ala. LEXIS 31

The Court of Civil Appeals, 612 So.2d 480, stated that the record testimony showed a lack of resources on the part of the parents, and, therefore, concluded that the trial court did not commit reversible error in refusing to order the parents to make child support payments as required by § 12-15-71(i), Ala. Code 1975. The petitioner has supplied no facts to refute this conclusion. Therefore, we deny the writ.

We note, however, that § 12-15-71(i) requires a trial court to order child support in conformity with Rule 32, Ala.R.Jud.Admin., and that this rule requires the court to order the parents to pay child support when the parents have resources for child support. A trial court, therefore, must apply the guidelines set out in Rule 32 when making child support determinations in cases such as this. These guidelines require the trial court to consider the resources of the parents, not simply their incomes, in making a determination of child support.

WRIT DENIED.

HORNSBY, C.J., J., and MADDOX, HOUSTON and KENNEDY, JJ., concur.