This appeal arises from an order of support entered against Travis Deon Henry in Dekalb Superior Court. On appeal, Henry challenges the trial court’s creation of a $250,000 trust to fund future child support payments in the event that he fails to pay support as ordered. For the reasons that follow, we affirm. In 2004, Jameshia L. Beacham filed an action for paternity against Henry, asking for genetic testing of Henry and her child1 and asking for entry of an order of support against Henry. Henry answered, admitting that he had undergone genetic testing and was the father of Beacham’s child, and he admitted he was therefore liable for reasonable support of the child. On August 22, 2005, the trial court entered a temporary child support order, directing Henry to pay $2,200 per month to Beacham. On August 17, 2007, the trial court entered a final judgment of paternity and legitimation, finding that 1 Henry had fathered Beacham’s child; 2 Henry had fathered eight other children; 3 seven court orders existed in multiple states dealing with child support for seven of the eight other children; and 4 Henry had recently signed a $25 million contract with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League.
The trial court found that Henry’s gross monthly income was $49,583.33, which supported an upward deviation from the top-most tier of the child support obligation tables to $3,000 per month of support. The court also found that, despite having made substantial sums of money as a professional athlete over the preceding seven years, Henry had been behind on his temporary child support payments to Beacham on three occasions and had encountered financial problems over the course of his professional athletic career. The final judgment order directed entry of an income deduction order, providing that $9,000 be deducted from Henry’s monthly paychecks during the football season September through December in order to fulfill a total annual child support amount of $36,000. Finally, in light of Henry’s previous financial problems and previous child support arrearages, the trial court directed that he fund a $250,000 trust, which would be invaded only in the event that Henry failed to pay his obligations.
