WESTBROOKS, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶ 1. Lacedric D. Gipson appeals a judgment from the Chancery Court of Tippah County. After a review of the record, we affirm the chancery court's decision to hold Gipson in contempt for unpaid medical bills; however, we reverse the chancery court's upward modification of child support and remand for the court to make specific on-the-record findings regarding the child-support guidelines and deviation criteria.
¶ 2. At the time of the proceedings, Gipson and his wife had been married for approximately ten years. During the course of their marriage, Gipson fathered children with two other women, including Stephanie Jackson. Jackson and Gipson have a son, D.J.,
¶ 3. In 2015, D.J. no longer qualified for Mississippi Medicaid. Jackson stated that she began paying for his medical expenses out of her own pocket and placed him on her insurance. Jackson informed Gipson that D.J. no longer qualified for Medicaid, and that it would be more cost effective for their son to be placed on Gipson's insurance. However, Gipson testified that he forgot about getting insurance coverage. Gipson also informed Jackson that he would not pay his half of the medical bills — even though Jackson provided Gipson with copies of the receipts and bills to review.
¶ 4. Jackson filed a complaint for contempt and modification of child support. Jackson, who was living with her boyfriend at the time, also requested that the chancery court modify the provision prohibiting overnight romantic guests while in D.J.'s presence if said guests were not related by blood or marriage. Gipson filed a counter-petition for contempt and modification. The chancery court found both Jackson and Gipson in contempt and ordered they both be incarcerated until they purged themselves of contempt.
¶ 5. "This Court's scope of review in domestic-relations cases is limited." Wilson v. Stewart, 171 So.3d 522, 526 (¶ 8) (Miss. Ct. App. 2014) (citation omitted). "We will not disturb a chancellor's judgment when supported by substantial evidence unless the chancellor abused his discretion, was manifestly wrong or clearly erroneous, or applied an erroneous legal standard." Id.
¶ 6. Gipson asserts that the chancellor erred in ordering him to pay $696.99 to Jackson for D.J.'s medical bills. He argues that the chancellor's decision was not supported by substantial and credible evidence. However, Gipson fails to cite any authority to substantiate his assertion. This Court has held that "failure to cite any authority is a procedural bar, and a reviewing court is under no obligation to consider the assignment." In re Estate of Forrest, 165 So.3d 548, 550 (¶ 7) (Miss. Ct. App. 2015).
¶ 7. Notwithstanding the procedural bar, we find that Gipson's assertion lacks merit. These facts are analogous to Stallings v. Allen, 201 So.3d 500 (Miss. Ct. App. 2016). In Stallings,
Id. at 504 (¶ 16). Moreover, there were no receipts submitted by the mother, yet this Court found that the chancery court's findings were supported by substantial evidence. Id. at 506 (¶ 23).
¶ 8. In this case, the chancery court's original order specifically stated that Gipson must pay half of D.J.'s medical bills. Furthermore, Jackson provided receipts and a spreadsheet that itemized and verified each payment she made toward D.J.'s medical bills. Therefore, we find that the chancery court did not abuse its discretion in finding Gipson in contempt. Further, we find that the chancery court's judgment was supported by substantial evidence. Therefore, this issue is without merit.
¶ 9. Gipson argues that the chancellor failed to make specific findings on the record, as required for a modification of child support; yet there was a $200 increase.
¶ 10. This Court has held that "the chancellor must apply the guidelines to make the determination that their application would be unjust." Evans v. Evans, 75 So.3d 1083, 1091 (¶ 31) (Miss. Ct. App. 2011) (citation omitted). But there are exceptions to the guidelines regarding the modification of child support in Mississippi Code Annotated section 43-19-103 (Rev. 2015). This section provides:
Miss. Code Ann. § 43-19-103 (emphasis added).
¶ 11. Jackson presented a Rule 8.05 financial statement to the chancery court, and Gipson testified that he could pay an increase in child support — although the amount of the increase was not discussed. The chancery court discussed the fact that Gipson and his wife traveled frequently and the fact that Gipson had purchased gifts
¶ 12. The chancellor stated that while Gipson was not working due to a chronic ankle injury, he could get a part-time job and earn more income. The chancellor also stated the following:
¶ 13. However, we find that the increase in child support was based upon speculative income. In order for there to be a deviation from the guidelines, there must be specific findings of fact on the record. Further, "[w]hen a chancellor makes a ruling without specific findings of fact and a party raises the issue of the amount of child support awarded, this Court will send the issue back to the lower court for the mandatory specific findings of fact as to why the chancellor deviated
¶ 14.
LEE, C.J., GRIFFIS, P.J., BARNES, CARLTON, FAIR, WILSON, GREENLEE AND TINDELL, JJ., CONCUR. IRVING, P.J., CONCURS IN PART AND IN THE RESULT WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION.
The chancery court also held Jackson in contempt for living with her boyfriend and ordered that Jackson be incarcerated until her boyfriend moved out of her home. However, Jackson and her boyfriend were married the same day. The court also denied Jackson's request to modify the provision forbidding overnight romantic guests while in the presence of the minor child if said guests were not related by blood or marriage.