Columbus County DSS ex rel. Moore v. Norton (North Carolina 2019)

A court should consider a parent’s income and assets to decide if the parent has the present ability to pay child support. The father appealed the court’s order finding him in contempt for failure to pay support. The trial court found evidence that he had the ability to pay support. He had income, he recently purchased two vehicles, and he held title to a home. His father paid his living expenses. On appeal, he argued that the property shouldn’t have been attributed to him. The court of appeals upheld the trial court’s decision. The court of appeals found the trial court properly considered all of the father’s assets and income.