Crider

Petitioner seeks relief from an order adjudicating him in contempt for his failure to make monthly installment payments under a judgment ordering him to reimburse real party in interest, the County of El Dorado (county), for public assistance benefits provided by the county to petitioner’s children. We shall hold that such a judgment is not enforceable by contempt. Accordingly, we shall annul the judgment of contempt.

In October 1987, the District Attorney of El Dorado County filed a civil complaint in the name of the county and on behalf of petitioner’s four children to establish petitioner’s obligation to pay future child support. The complaint also sought to recoup public assistance paid by the county under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program for the past support of petitioner’s children.

On December 22, 1987, the parties entered into a stipulation establishing petitioner’s paternity and the county’s provision of public assistance to petitioner’s children beginning September 1, 1987. The stipulation provided for entry of judgment against petitioner (1) in the amount of $2,616, the amount of AFDC benefits provided by the county, to be paid in…