The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that radiologist Aiza Ashraf must pay child support based on a weekly earning capacity of $8,811, not her actual reduced income of $6,677. The judges rejected her appeal, finding sufficient evidence that she voluntarily cut her hours to care for their newborn daughter rather than being unable to work. This decision cemented the lower court’s calculation, which prioritized her potential full-time earnings over her current part-time reality.
Ashraf, who specializes in breast imaging radiology at Indiana University, filed for divorce in September 2024, just weeks after her daughter’s birth in August. Her former husband, Mohsin Mukhtar, a fellow radiologist, argued they held identical employment contracts and that she retained the qualifications for full-time diagnostic work. He sought to impute her income to his base salary level to ensure equitable support. The Hamilton Circuit Court agreed, ruling on October 13, 2025, that she was capable of working full-time.
The legal dispute hinged on Indiana’s child support guidelines, which allow courts to consider a parent’s earning capacity if they are voluntarily underemployed. Ashraf argued that reducing her schedule to three-quarters was necessary for infant care and that opportunities for extra "moonlighting" shifts in her specific niche were limited. The appeals panel noted, however, that she had previously earned the same base salary as Mukhtar and acknowledged she could take on more hours if she chose to. They determined the $8,811 figure accurately reflected her base pay without inflating it with extra shift earnings.
The ruling also resolved a contentious battle over parenting time. In September 2024, Ashraf began sleeping in the nursery and barred Mukhtar from entering, leading to a preliminary order in December 2024 that denied him overnight stays. She proposed a gradual increase in his time, suggesting overnights only when the child turned two, citing breastfeeding and nighttime comfort needs. Mukhtar countered that he had actively participated in early care and completed parenting courses, seeking equal time. The lower court ultimately awarded him three nights a week.
The appeals court upheld the overnight arrangement, acknowledging it exceeded standard guidelines for such a young child but finding it in the best interests of the family given the circumstances. Ashraf’s challenge failed, leaving the support and custody orders intact. The next step involves the execution of these final orders, with Ashraf now required to recalculate her support obligations based on the higher imputed income.