In re McCandless (1911) · DecisionDepot

In re McCandless

Name: California Superior Court Tentative Rulings
Creator: DecisionDepot
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

California Court of Appeal Oct 5, 1911 No. Crim. No. 222Published

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Holding. A parent cannot be imprisoned for failing to comply with a court-ordered child support payment unless the record affirmatively demonstrates that the parent has the ability to pay.

Issues

Whether a parent may be imprisoned for failure to pay court-ordered child support without proof of the parent's ability to pay.

Disposition. Petitioner discharged.

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“it must affirmatively appear that he has the ability to comply with the order of the court.”

Synopsis

Parent and Child—Order for Maintenance of Minor Children—Invalid Commitment for Disobedience — Ability not Shown— Habeas Corpus.-—A parent who has been committed to the custody of the sheriff on account of his failure to make certain monthly payments directed by the superior court for the support and maintenance of his minor children is entitled to be discharged on a writ of habeas corpus, where it nowhere appears in the record, nor in any order or judgment of the superior court in connection with the proceedings, that he has the ability to pay the sum ordered.

Id.—Duty of Parent to Support Children—Order of Court for Imprisonment—Showing of Ability Essential.—While it is the duty of a parent to support his children of tender years, yet, in order that he be imprisoned for failure to obey an order of the court in connection therewith, it must affirmatively appear that he has the ability to comply with the order of the court.

THE COURT. Petitioner, as shown by the return, is in the custody of the sheriff by virtue of a commitment issued on account of petitioner’s failure to make certain monthly payments by the superior court directed for the support and maintenance of his minor children. It nowhere appears in the record, nor in any order or judgment of the superior court in connection with the proceedings, that petitioner has the ability to pay the sum ordered. While it is the duty of a parent to support children of tender years, that he be imprisoned on account of the failure to obey an order of the court in connection therewith, it must affirmatively appear that he has the ability to comply with the order of the court. (In re Cowden, 139 Cal. 244, [37 Pac. 156]; Ex parte Cohen, 6 Cal. 319; Ex parte Rowe, 7 Cal. 175; Ex parte Silvia, 123 Cal. 293, [69 Am. St. Rep. 58, 55 Pac. 988].),

Petitioner discharged.

In re McCandless

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