A motion for contempt is a request for the court to punish a party for failing to obey a court order, such as in a family law matter when one party fails to pay child support or refuses to allow visitation. The purpose of a contempt action is to bring the other party to pay for their irresponsible actions. In order for a party to be held in contempt, however, the offending party must be found to have willfully violated the court order.
Once a court determines there has been a willful violation, a court may order: