Contempt of Court
Contempt of Court
Contempt of court occurs when someone willfully disobeys a court order or disrupts court proceedings. In family law cases, this often involves a parent refusing to follow a custody agreement, failing to pay court-ordered child support, or ignoring other legal obligations.
In Washington State, contempt can be civil or criminal. Civil contempt is used to compel someone to comply with a court order, such as enforcing child support payments. Criminal contempt is more serious and involves intentional acts that show disrespect for the court, such as disrupting a hearing or refusing to testify.
Penalties for contempt can include fines, wage garnishment, or even jail time in extreme cases. If one party believes the other is violating a court order, they can file a motion for contempt. Since these matters can be legally complex, consulting a Seattle family law attorney is often the best course of action.
