Marriage of Bravo
Appellant Jess Bravo (Jess) filed a petition for dissolution of his marriage to respondent Carmen Bravo (Carmen) and was thereafter ordered by the trial court to pay monthly amounts to Carmen as spousal support and child support.[1] He fell into arrears concerning these support obligations and Carmen eventually requested the aid of the Kern County Department of Child Support Services (the Department)[2]to enforce the support orders. Jess in turn sought relief and/or clarification regarding the amounts owed, claiming that the trial court had previously discontinued his spousal support obligation. Jess also claimed that he should not owe any child support for the period of time one of the minor childrenthe parties daughter, Melissa resided with him. By order issued on June 3, 2008, the trial court held that Jess continued to owe monthly spousal support to Carmen based on the original 2003 order, which was never terminated or modified. The trial court also ruled that the amount of spousal support was increased from $500 to $750 per month, that Jess was to receive a credit toward child support arrears for the time period Melissa resided with him, and that monies held in trust from the sale of the family residence were to be released to the Department to distribute in accordance with the trial courts orders for Jess to pay support arrearages. Jess appealed from the June 3, 2008, order on various grounds. As explained herein, we affirm the order in its entirety.
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