STABLEIN v. STABLEIN, 59 Wn.2d 465 (1962)

368 P.2d 174

COLLEEN RUGG STABLEIN, Appellant, v. WILLIAM G. STABLEIN, Respondent.[*]

No. 35777.The Supreme Court of Washington. Department One.
January 18, 1962.

[1] CONTEMPT — DIVORCE — ALIMONY AND ALLOWANCES — ENFORCEMENT — BY CONTEMPT. Enforcement of support provisions in a divorce decree by contempt is proper absent a showing of inability to perform. [2] JUDGMENT — BY DEFAULT — RELIEF AWARDED — IN EXCESS OF DEMAND — EFFECT. A default judgment cannot exceed the demand of the complaint, and if it does, the excess is void. [1] See Ann. 172 A.L.R. 870, 61 A.L.R. 2d 1096; Am. Jur., Divorce and Separation § 873.

Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court for King County, No. 508463, Edward E. Henry, J., entered July 22, 1960 Affirmed.

Contempt proceedings for failure to make support payments under a divorce decree. Plaintiff appeals from judgment partially in her favor.

Irene Rush Ferris and Donna McArthur, for appellant.

Bennett Hoffman, for respondent.

FOSTER, J.

Appellant wife obtained a default divorce from the respondent in September, 1957. Her complaint demanded child support of $25 per month until respondent, a third-year university student, completed his formal education, and $50 per month thereafter. The court’s decree allowed $25 per month for one year and $65 per month thereafter.

In May, 1960, appellant instituted contempt proceedings alleging that respondent had failed to make the required support payments. Her supporting affidavit stated that since 1957 respondent had paid only $334, and this irregularly.

No evidence was received on the contempt charge, and, at the conclusion of the proceedings, the court ruled that respondent was not in contempt but that monthly payments of $50 should commence forthwith.

Page 466

Appellant contends that the court erred by failing to hold respondent in contempt, by failing to give effect to the support provisions of the 1957 decree, and by modifying the support provisions of that decree.

[1] Enforcement of such an order by contempt is proper absent a showing of inability to perform[1] We are told that $334 has been paid pursuant to the 1957 decree, but the amounts or the sequence of any payments is undisclosed by the record brought here. We have only a very brief and inadequate agreed statement of facts, and, from this fragmentary record, the reason for the finding that the respondent was not in contempt is a mystery. Nevertheless, we cannot say that the court erred in withholding its coercive power of contempt. [2] A default judgment cannot exceed the demand of the complaint. Sheldon v. Sheldon, 47 Wn.2d 699, 289 P.2d 335; State ex rel. Adams v. Superior Court, 36 Wn.2d 868, 220 P.2d 1081; Ermey v. Ermey, 18 Wn.2d 544, 139 P.2d 1016; Bates v. Glaser, 130 Wn. 328, 227 P. 15; State ex rel. First Nat. Bank v. Hastings, 120 Wn. 283, 207 P. 23 In re Sixth Avenue West, 59 Wn. 41, 109 P. 1052; In re Groen, 22 Wn. 53, 60 P. 123. If it does so, the excess is void. State ex rel. First Nat. Bank v. Hastings, supra; Bates v. Glaser, supra; Ermey v. Ermey, supra.

The one-year limitation on the $25 monthly support payments is within the demand of the complaint. However, the provision for the payment of $65 monthly is beyond the prayer, and, therefore, the $15 excess over the demand is void. The court did not modify the 1957 decree by ordering $50 payments to commence immediately, but only restated its valid portions.

Affirmed.

FINLEY, C.J., HILL, WEAVER, and ROSELLINI, JJ., concur.

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