No. COA99-654

(Filed 6 June 2000)

    Appeal by defendant from order dated 26 February 1999 by Judge Robert L. Harrell in Buncombe County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 28 March 2000.

    Buncombe County Child Support Enforcement Agency, by Susan E. Wilson, for plaintiff-appellee.
    Ronald C. True for defendant-appellant.

    GREENE, Judge.

    William E. Jackson (Jackson) appeals from the trial court's order modifying a previous order of child support and increasing his child support obligation.
    The record reveals Jackson is the father of five minor children born of three different mothers. All three mothers, Yolanda Yvette Blair (Blair), Sonya L. Searles (Searles), and Stephanie Renee Williams (Williams), in separate cases, sought child support by and through the IV-D Child Support Enforcement Agency for Buncombe County (Agency). Pursuant to those requests, the trial court, in 1996, ordered child support as follows: (1) for the two children born to Blair, $210.00 per month; (2) for the two children born to Williams, $135.00 per month; and (3) for the one child born to Searles, $90.00 per month.
    On 7 December 1998, the Agency moved to modify Jackson's child support obligation in each of the three cases. On 6 January 1999, Jackson moved to deviate from the child support Guidelines,   (See footnote 1)  because application of the Guidelines "for one case, will cause alterations in the other cases, and upon altering another case, it will become an endless cycle."   (See footnote 2)      All three cases came on for hearing on 23 February 1999, having been consolidated. The parties stipulated there was a substantial change of circumstances and agreed Jackson had a monthly gross income of $1,678.43. The trial court set the child support in this case by utilizing the Guidelines. It determined Jackson's adjusted gross income ($1,453.43) by deducting his previously determined child support obligations   (See footnote 3)  to Searles ($90.00) and Williams ($135.00) from his monthly gross income ($1,678.43 - $225.00).   (See footnote 4)  The trial court's order contains nofindings as to the reasonable needs of the children for support or the relative abilities of each parent to provide child support.
    Jackson's child support obligation was modified and increased to the sum of $470.00 per month in this case (Blair), to the sum of $355.00 per month in the Williams case, and to the sum of $262.00 per month in the Searles case. The total support in all three cases amounted to $1,087.00 or approximately 66% of Jackson's gross income.
    The trial court's order also provided Jackson "shall[:]
        obtain medical insurance within 10 (ten) days of this court order or maintain medical insurance coverage for the child(ren) in this matter. Furnish [Blair] with the policy number for this coverage within 10 (ten) days from the date of this order."

There is no evidence in this record as to the cost of providing medical insurance or whether Jackson had access to group health insurance. After appealing the trial court's order, Jackson moved the trial court to stay enforcement of the order pending appeal.   (See footnote 5)  The motion was denied by the trial court, and this Court subsequently granted Jackson's writ of supersedeas to stay the orders pending this appeal.   (See footnote 6) 

    The issues are whether: (I) (A) the Guidelines apply to situations where a person fathers multiple children with multiple mothers; (B) pre-existing child support under the Guidelines has reference to child support orders entered in cases involving one father and multiple mothers with children; (C) the trial court entered findings necessary to reject Jackson's request for a deviation from the Guidelines; and (II) on this record, Jackson can be required to maintain health insurance for his five children.


    Child support is to be set in such amount "as to meet the reasonable needs of the child for health, education, and maintenance, having due regard to the estates, earnings, conditions, accustomed standard of living of the child and the parties." N.C.G.S. § 50-13.4(c) (1999). Child support set consistent with the Guidelines is conclusively presumed to be in such amount as to meet the reasonable needs of the child and commensurate with the relative abilities of each parent to pay support. Browne v. Browne, 101 N.C. App. 617, 624, 400 S.E.2d 736, 740 (1991). The trial court "upon its own motion" or upon a timely request of a party may deviate from the Guidelines. Support Guidelines, 2000 Special Supp. at R-2; Browne, 101 N.C. App. at 624, 400 S.E.2d at 740 (10 days written notice required). If deviation is requested, the trial court is required to follow a four-step process: (1) determine the presumptive child support amount under the Guidelines; (2) take evidence, if offered, as to the reasonable needs of the child and the abilities of the parentsto provide support; (3) determine whether the presumptive support would meet or exceed the "reasonable needs of the child considering the relative ability of each parent to provide support or would be otherwise unjust or inappropriate"; and (4) following its determination that deviation is either warranted or unwarranted, enter written findings of fact showing the presumptive child support amount under the Guidelines; the reasonable needs of the child; the relative ability of each party to provide support; and that application of the Guidelines would exceed or would (or would not) meet the reasonable needs of the child or would (or would not) be "unjust or inappropriate."   (See footnote 7)  N.C.G.S. § 50-13.4(c); see Sain v. Sain, 134 N.C. App. 460, 465-66, 517 S.E.2d 921, 926 (1999).

    [1]Jackson first argues the Guidelines "never contemplated a situation wherein one individual might father multiple children from multiple mothers," and thus, the Guidelines should not apply in this case. We disagree. The Guidelines specifically provide adjusted gross income is to be computed by deducting from a party's gross income any child support "actually made by a party under any pre-existing court order(s) or separation agreement(s)." Support Guidelines, 2000 Special Supp. at R-3. Thus, the Guidelines contemplate a person may father children by several mothers.
    [2]Jackson argues in the alternative the trial court erred in
        crediting pre-existing child support [for the Williams and Searles] children by using the support amounts from the 1996 Order and not the new amounts [set in 1999], inasmuch as should, for example, an increase be appropriate in the Blair case, then that new amount of support should be utilized in running the Guidelines in the Williams and Searles case[s]. Of course, the Guidelines would then need to be re-run in the Blair case, allowing for the change in numbers on pre-existing support . . . for the other children from the Williams and Searles cases, ad infinitum.

    The Guidelines provide a party is entitled to a credit to his gross income for any child support paid pursuant to a "pre- existing" court order or separation agreement. Id. Although the Guidelines do not define "pre-existing," its plain meaning in the context of the Guidelines allows a credit for any child support paid pursuant to a court order or separation agreement in existence prior to the setting of child support in the case presently before the trial court. American Heritage College Dictionary 1078 (3d ed. 1993) ("pre-exist" is defined as "[t]o exist beforehand").
    In this case, there were multiple child support claims filed by different mothers against a common father and those claims were consolidated for hearing. Thus, at the time of the simultaneous adjudication of these child support claims, the 1996 orders of child support were the only pre-existing orders of support.   (See footnote 8)  Jackson, therefore, was entitled to have his gross income adjusted for the amount of monies he actually paid under the 1996 orders for the benefit of children other than the children subject to the specific claim at issue.

    [3]Jackson's final alternative argument is the trial court erred in failing to deviate from the Guidelines. Jackson claims a deviation is necessary, because the child support for all five children, set pursuant to the Guidelines, amounted to 66% of his gross income and, therefore, it is not just or appropriate.
    The case must be reversed and remanded on this issue, as the order of the trial court does not reveal any findings as to whether the support set pursuant to the Guidelines would exceed, meet, or fail to meet the reasonable needs of the children or whether support set pursuant to the Guidelines would be "unjust or inappropriate." On remand, the parties will be permitted to offer new evidence and any order entered must ensure that Jackson has "sufficient income to maintain a minimum standard of living basedon the 1997 federal poverty level for one person."   < Font size=2> (See footnote 9)  Support Guidelines, 2000 Special Supp. at R-2.
    

    [4]Jackson argues the trial court committed reversible error in ordering him to carry health insurance for his minor children without first determining its availability at a reasonable cost. We agree.
    N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.11 provides, in pertinent part:
         (a) The court may order a parent of a minor child . . . to provide medical support for the child . . . . An order . . . for medical support for the child may require one or both parties to pay the medical, hospital, dental, or other health care related expenses.

         (a1) The court shall order the parent of a minor child . . . to maintain health insurance for the benefit of the child when health insurance is available at a reasonable cost. As used in this subsection, health insurance is considered reasonable in cost if it is employment related or other group health insurance, regardless of service delivery mechanism.

N.C.G.S. § 50-13.11(a), (a1) (1999) (emphasis added).

    Agency argues "medical support," within the meaning of section 50-13.11(a), includes health insurance, and thus, the trial court has the discretion to order a parent to provide health insurance pursuant to this subsection. Jackson argues health insurance can be ordered for a child only pursuant to section 50-13.11(a1), and thus, only upon a showing that "health insurance" is available ata reasonable cost. We agree with Jackson.
    "[M]edical support" as referenced in subsection (a) is defined to include "medical, hospital, dental, or other health care related expenses." N.C.G.S. § 50-13.11(a). Although "other health care related expenses" is somewhat ambiguous and could be read to include health insurance, such a construction would be contrary to the clear intent of the legislature. By including a separate and specific provision on "health insurance," the legislature reveals its intent that "health insurance" be ordered only pursuant to subsection (a1). See Merritt v. Edwards Ridge, 323 N.C. 330, 337, 372 S.E.2d 559, 563 (1988) (where a statute deals with a particular situation in detail, while another deals with it in general and comprehensive terms, the particular statute will be construed as controlling). "[M]edical support," by definition, thus, does not include health insurance.
    In this case, there is no evidence health insurance was available to Jackson at a "reasonable cost," was available to Jackson at his place of employment, or was otherwise available through some group insurance plan. N.C.G.S. § 50-13.11(a1) (health insurance is available at a reasonable cost if "employment related or other group health insurance"). Accordingly, the trial court had no authority to order Jackson to provide health insurance for the children. On remand, Agency should be given the opportunity to present evidence that health insurance is available to Jackson at a reasonable cost or otherwise request an order directing Jackson to provide "medical support" within the purview of subsection (a).
    [5]Jackson finally contends a Temporary Memorandum Order entered on 15 January 1999, increasing child support to $300.00 permonth, must be reversed. We agree. The Order indicates on its face it was entered on the basis of the consent of both parties, but that consent does not appear in this record and there is no other basis to support the Order. The 15 January 1999 Order is, thus, vacated.     Reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.
    Judges MCGEE and EDMUNDS concur.

---

Footnote: 1

    ; The 1997 federal poverty levels are found in the Federal Register. See Annual Update of HHS Poverty Guidelines, 62 Fed. Reg. 10,856-59 (1997). For example, the annual poverty level of a family unit of one person is $7,890.00 in the 48 contiguous states. Id. at 10,857.

*** Converted from WordPerfect ***