Opinion
December 23, 1988
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Erie County, Forma, J.
Present — Denman, J.P., Boomer, Balio, Lawton and Davis, JJ.
Order unanimously reversed on the law without costs and matter remitted to Supreme Court, Erie County, for further proceedings, in accordance with the following memorandum: The court, without a hearing, held defendant in contempt for failure to comply with the provisions of the parties' financial stipulation, which was incorporated but not merged into their judgment of divorce (see, Singer v Singer, 52 A.D.2d 774). Because the record does not establish that alternative enforcement procedures were inadequate or that the court considered alternatives, it was error for the court to grant plaintiff's motion to hold defendant in contempt (Domestic Relations Law § 245; Wiggins v Wiggins, 121 A.D.2d 534; Heitzman v Heitzman, 105 A.D.2d 682, 683-684; Barreca v Barreca, 77 A.D.2d 793). Additionally, since the parties' stipulation does not provide the time frame within which defendant must undergo a physical examination, the court should direct defendant to comply within a specified period before entertaining plaintiff's application for contempt. The court's award of counsel fees also cannot be sustained because it was based on its improper order adjudicating defendant to be in contempt (Barreca v Barreca, supra, at 794; Raphan v Raphan, 63 A.D.2d 624, 626).