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NASH v. MULLE Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A high-income father’s child support obligation is not capped by state guidelines. The court can order support above the presumptive maximum and require funding a trust for the child’s future college education, even if benefits are realized after the child reaches the age of majority.
Legal Significance: Established that for high-income obligors, child support is discretionary above the guideline’s presumptive income cap. Affirmed that courts may order the creation of educational trusts funded during a child’s minority for post-majority expenses, ensuring the child benefits from the parent’s high standard of living.
NASH v. MULLE Law School Study Guide
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Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Helen Nash sought an increase in child support from Charles Mulle, the father of her daughter, Melissa. Mulle, who had no relationship with the child, had experienced a dramatic increase in income. His net monthly income was determined to be $14,726.98, substantially exceeding the $6,250 per month maximum income level to which Tennessee’s Child Support Guidelines presumptively applied. The Juvenile Court ordered Mulle to pay $3,092.62 per month, which represented 21% of his total net income. Of this amount, the court ordered $1,780.17 to be placed into a trust fund for Melissa’s future college education. The Court of Appeals reversed, holding that the support award should be capped at 21% of the $6,250 guideline maximum ($1,312 per month) and that the educational trust constituted impermissible post-minority support. The Tennessee Supreme Court granted review to determine the proper application of the guidelines to high-income earners and the validity of the educational trust.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: In a child support determination for a high-income parent, may a court exercise its discretion to set an award exceeding the presumptive maximum in the state’s child support guidelines and order that a portion of the award be placed in a trust for the child’s post-majority college education?
Yes. A trial court has the discretion to set a child support Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut e
IRAC Legal Analysis
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IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
In a child support determination for a high-income parent, may a court exercise its discretion to set an award exceeding the presumptive maximum in the state’s child support guidelines and order that a portion of the award be placed in a trust for the child’s post-majority college education?
Conclusion
This decision establishes that Tennessee's child support guidelines provide a discretionary framework, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute
Legal Rule
When a non-custodial parent's net income exceeds the maximum amount specified in Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusm
Legal Analysis
The Tennessee Supreme Court's analysis focused on the purpose and flexibility of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehende
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- In high-income cases, the child support guidelines’ $6,250/month threshold is not