A 177 sanction is a monetary penalty imposed by a judge under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 177.5. The court may order this sanction against any party, witness, or attorney who violates a court order without good cause or substantial justification. The maximum amount is $1,500, and the payment goes directly to the court rather than to the opposing party. The order imposing the sanction must be in writing and must describe the specific conduct that justified it.

In California Family Law

In family law cases, 177 sanctions commonly arise when a party fails to comply with court orders related to discovery, support payments, or custody arrangements. These sanctions are distinct from Family Code Section 271 sanctions, which compensate the other party and have no dollar cap. Because 177 sanctions are paid to the court and capped at $1,500, they are generally considered a lighter penalty. However, a pattern of 177 sanctions can signal to the court that a party is acting in bad faith, which may influence rulings on other issues in the case.