IN RE: Kurt WESTENBERGER (2005)

In related child support proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 4, the father appeals from an order of the Family Court, Nassau County (Marks, J.), dated April 14, 2004, which denied his objections to an order of the same court (Dwyer, H.E.) dated March 25, 2003, which, after a hearing, inter alia, directed him to pay child support in the sum of $141 per week for two of the parties' children and arrears in the sum of $8,565.25.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.

 The appellant's contention that the hearing examiner erroneously imputed income to him for the purpose of calculating his child support obligation is without merit.   In determining a party's child support obligation, “a court need not rely upon the party's own account of his or her finances, but may impute income based upon the party's past income or demonstrated earning potential” (Rocanello v. Rocanello, 254 A.D.2d 269, 678 N.Y.S.2d 385;  see Curran v. Curran, 2 A.D.3d 391, 767 N.Y.S.2d 852).   This is particularly true when, as here, the record supports a finding that the appellant's reported income on his tax return is suspect (see Ivani v. Ivani, 303 A.D.2d 639, 757 N.Y.S.2d 89;  Matter of Graves v. Smith, 284 A.D.2d 332, 333, 725 N.Y.S.2d 367;  see also Matter of Hurd v. Hurd, 303 A.D.2d 928, 757 N.Y.S.2d 170).

The appellant's remaining contentions are without merit.