Opinion ID: 2035565
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Evidence Insufficient to Find Contempt

Text: On the issue of whether the evidence supported the trial court's finding that Michael was in contempt, the Court of Appeals found that there was no evidence to establish that Michael was able to pay the child support or that his failure to comply with the order to pay was willful. 612 N.E.2d at 1093. On transfer, neither Donna nor Michael challenged that conclusion. Contempt is not appropriate unless the parent has the ability to pay the support due and his failure to do so was willful. Brown, 205 Ind. at 668, 187 N.E. at 838; Whitman, 405 N.E.2d 608, 614. Here, Michael testified that he was aware that he was in arrears and had no sources other than borrowing to pay it. He testified that a bank had rejected his loan application because he and his present wife did not have enough income, and therefore, his parents would be the only possible source of a loan. However, there was no evidence that his parents were willing or able to make the loan and, of course, they were not obligated to do so. In short, there was no evidence that Michael's failure to pay was willful.