In re Marriage of Pollard
Court of Appeals of Washington
991 P.2d 1201 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000)
Martin Pollard and Joan Pollard Brookins divorced with two children, and Martin had legal custody while Joan was ordered to pay child support based on her then-full-time job. Joan later remarried, had two more children, quit her full-time job, and took part-time work so she could care for her new children, then petitioned to reduce her child-support obligation based on her lower income. Martin argued the court should impute income to Joan based on her old full-time job when calculating support. The trial court declined to impute income and reduced her obligation based on her new, lower earnings; Martin appealed.
Whether a parent may avoid a child-support obligation by voluntarily remaining unemployed or underemployed.