White v. White

This is an appeal by plaintiff, as guardian of a minor child, from an order in a proceeding instituted for the purpose of compelling defendant (the father of the child) to pay a certain sum of money for the support of the child.

[1] It appears that the child is the minor daughter of defendant and his divorced wife; that the divorce between the father and the mother of the child was obtained by the father in the state of Texas, and that without any provision being made in the decree for the support of the minor child of the parties, the court awarded the absolute custody of the child to the wife.

In such circumstances it appears to have been ruled directly by the higher courts of this state that a separate action by the child against the father to compel him to furnish support for the child will not lie. (Lewis v. Lewis, 174 Cal. 336 [163 P. 42]; Matter of McMullin, 164 Cal. 504 [129 P. 773]; Ex parteMiller, 109 Cal. 643, 648 [42 P. 428]. See, also, People v.Hartman, 23 Cal.App. 72 [137 P. 611]; In re Perry, 37 Cal.App. 189 [174 P. 105].)

There is, however, later authority to the effect that because in a divorce proceeding the custody of a minor child of the parties has been awarded to the mother, does not relieve the father from his duty to support the child who has no other source of maintenance. (Pacific Gold Dredging Co. v. Industrial Acc.Com., 184 Cal. 462 [13 A.L.R. 725, 194 P. 1]; Svoboda v.Superior Court, 190 Cal. 727 [214 P. 440]; Llewellyn IronWorks v. Industrial Acc. Com., 191 Cal. 28 [214 P. 846];Federal Mutual L.I. Co. v. Industrial Acc. Com., 195 Cal. 283 [233 P. 335].)

The rule as announced in the case of Davies v. Fisher,34 Cal.App. 137 [166 P. 833], is that the mother of a minor child whose custody was awarded to the mother in a decree of divorce granted in a sister state, and which decree made no provision for the support by the father of the minor child, may bring an independent action in this state to compel the father to support the minor child, where it is made to appear that both parties are residents of this state, and the wife is without means to contribute to such support.

On the hearing of the instant matter, which resulted in the order to which exception is taken by appellant, no evidence was introduced which showed that the child was in need of support from the defendant. To the contrary, the evidence was to the effect that the child was a remainderman of a one-fourth interest in an estate of the value of $250,000. Nor, aside from testimony that the wife was the owner of a one-fourth interest in the "Octagon Drop Forge Co.," was any showing made regarding the financial ability of the wife to provide the child with the necessaries of life.

In the face of the record and the law as hereinbefore noted, it was legally impossible that the relief for which plaintiff prayed be granted.

The order is affirmed.

Conrey, P.J., and York, J., concurred.