Judge signs final divorce decree for Cody Wayne Plaster; child support warning recorded

The court entered a final decree of divorce in the case filed by Cody Wayne Plaster after the judge confirmed the parties' written marital dissolution agreement and parenting plan and questioned whether child support had been properly addressed.

Judge David D. Wolfe asked Cody Wayne Plaster whether the marital dissolution agreement and parenting plan bore their signatures and whether the parenting plan was in the children's best interests. Plaster confirmed the documents were his and that he believed the parenting plan fairly divided property and custody.

Wolfe told both parties that state law requires an affirmative finding on child support and noted the parenting plan contained a handwritten notation that “neither party is requesting child support payments.” He warned that an informal agreement or a parent's statement that they are not requesting child support does not eliminate a party’s statutory obligation. The judge said the law allows for retroactive child-support liability if a court later finds payments were required.

Plaster told the court he provided about $200 weekly to the children's mother via Cash App and paid for school clothing and supplies; the judge observed that those informal payments were not the same as a court order. The judge signed the final decree and told the parties they could obtain a copy later in the morning.

The transcript shows the court approved the final decree, entered the divorce, and placed the decree on the record; the judge also reiterated the parties' responsibility to seek court-modified orders if informal arrangements change.