VILLANTI, Judge.
The father, B.K., seeks review of the final judgment of paternity as to the minor child, K.B.K. He specifically challenges the circuit court's imputation of income to him under section 61.30(2)(b), Florida Statutes (2012), and calculation of child support arrearage. We affirm the circuit court's determination regarding imputed income without comment; however because the court made a mathematical error when it calculated the child support arrearage, we reverse and remand for the circuit court to correct the error. We also remand the mother, S.D.C.'s, motion for appellate attorneys' fees for the circuit court to consider her entitlement, and amount, under section 742.045, Florida Statutes (2012).
Shortly after K.B.K.'s birth, B.K. filed a petition to establish paternity. Following mediation, both S.D.C. and B.K. sought an award of child support in the circuit court. In the final judgment of paternity, the circuit court found that S.D.C. was entitled to child support and awarded her an arrearage based on its determination and B.K.'s previous support payments. However, the circuit court made a mathematical error when it calculated the amount of the child support arrearage at $4050. Based on the findings in the final judgment, the arrearage should have totaled $3050.
S.D.C. argues that B.K. failed to preserve this error for appellate review by electing not to file a motion for rehearing. While other district courts have required parties complaining on appeal about inadequate findings in dissolution cases to bring the alleged defect to the trial court's attention in a motion for rehearing in order to preserve the issue for appeal, this court has not yet decided the preservation issue in the broader context. Esaw v. Esaw, 965 So.2d 1261, 1265 n. 1 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007). However, we previously declined to extend this line of reasoning to claims of mathematical error appearing on the face of a final judgment. See Smith v. Smith,
We now turn to S.D.C.'s timely filed motion for appellate attorneys' fees and costs. Section 742.045 does not expressly authorize an award of appellate attorneys' fees in paternity actions. But, when section 742.045 was enacted in 1991, it mirrored the attorneys' fees provision of section 61.16, Florida Statutes (1991). At that time, Florida courts interpreted section 61.16 to allow for appellate attorney fees even though it contained no such express language. See Bryan v. Bryan, 342 So.2d 858 (Fla. 2d DCA 1977); Thornton v. Thornton, 433 So.2d 682, 683-84 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983); Baucom v. Bauc
In Starkey v. Linn, 727 So.2d 386, 388 n. 3 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999), the Fifth District based its determination that section 742.045 does not provide for appellate attorney's fees on the "conspicuous absence of authority to award appellate fees" when compared with section 61.16. See also Gilbertson v. Boggs, 743 So.2d 123, 128 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999). However, "the legislature is presumed to know the existing law when a statute is enacted, including judicial decisions on the subject concerning which it subsequently enacts a statute." Seagrave v. State, 802 So.2d 281, 290 (Fla.2001) (quoting Wood v. Fraser, 677 So.2d 15, 18 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Therefore, in enacting section 742.045, the legislature is presumed to have known and approved of the judicial construction of section 61.16 to include appellate attorneys fees. McPherson v. Bittner, ___ So.3d ___, 2012 WL 5232293, 37 Fla. L. Weekly D2519 (Fla. 4th DCA Oct. 24, 2012) (Warner,
We strike the motion for costs without prejudice to S.D.C. filing a motion in the circuit court in accordance with Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.400(a). However, we remand the motion for appellate attorneys' fees to the circuit court for the circuit court to consider S.D.C.'s need and B.K.'s ability to pay. In doing so, we certify conflict with Starkey and Gilbertson.
Affirmed in part; reversed in part; remanded with instructions; conflict certified.
LaROSE and MORRIS, JJ., Concur.