Louisiana § RS 9:326 - Determination of income for spousal support; evidence

§ RS 9:326. Determination of income for spousal support; evidence

A.  Each party shall provide to the court a verified income statement showing gross income and adjusted gross income, together with documentation of current and past earnings.  Suitable documentation of current earnings shall include but not be limited to pay stubs or employer statements.  The documentation shall include a copy of the party's most recent federal tax return.  A copy of the statement and documentation shall be provided to the other party.  When an obligor has an ownership interest in a business, suitable documentation shall include but is not limited to the last three personal and business state and federal income tax returns, including all attachments and all schedules, specifically Schedule K-1 and W-2 forms, 1099 forms, and amendments, the most recent profit and loss statements, balance sheets, financial statements, quarterly sales tax reports, personal and business bank account statements, receipts, and expenses.  A copy of all statements and documentation shall be provided to the other party.

B.  When a party alleges that income is being concealed or underreported, the court shall admit evidence relevant to establishing the actual income of the party, including but not limited to all of the following:

(1)  Redirected income.  (a)  Loans to the obligor by a business in which the obligor has an ownership interest and whether the loans will be repaid.  There shall be a presumption that the loans are income of the obligor which may be rebutted if the obligor demonstrates there is a history of similar past loans being made and repaid in a timely manner with market interest rates, or the current loan is at market interest rates and is fully paid in accordance with a commercially reasonable time.  The amount by which a commercially reasonable repayment amount exceeds the amount actually repaid shall be treated as income.

(b)  Payment made by the obligor or by a business in which the obligor has an ownership interest to a person related by blood or affinity in the form of wages or salary.  There shall be a presumption that the payments are income of the obligor, which may be rebutted if the obligor demonstrates there is a history of payments preceding the separation of the parties or the filing of an action to establish or modify spousal support, or that the payments are fair market value for services actually performed.

(2)  Deferred income.  Recent reductions in distributions of income, such as salary, bonuses, dividends, or management fees as a percentage of gross income of the business of the obligor.  There shall be a presumption that past distributions of income will continue, which may be rebutted if the obligor demonstrates business conditions justify a reduction in distributions.

(3)  Standard of living and assets.  The current standard of living and assets of the obligor both prior and subsequent to the establishment of a spousal support order, to establish the actual income if the amount claimed is inconsistent with his lifestyle.

C.  When the income of an obligor cannot be sufficiently established, evidence of wage and earnings surveys distributed by government agencies for the purpose of attributing income to the obligor is admissible.

Acts 2009, No. 378, §1.