In its simplest terms, contempt of court refers to any action that defies the authority of the court. Contempt of court can occur during the hearing (i.e. mocking the judge) or months after the judge has made his decision (i.e. refusing to pay child support). Both types of contempt of court has consequences.

An In-Depth Look into Contempt of Court

Contempt of court should be taken seriously, as it can have major ramifications on the people involved. Several examples of contempt of court include:

• Disobeying court orders
• Interrupting a court proceeding
• Refusing to comply
• Using inappropriate language in the courtroom

Conduct normally falls within two types of contempt of court – civil and criminal. Discover the details:

Criminal contempt of court refers to actions made by one party toward the court. Examples of criminal contempt of court include yelling at a judge, disrupting the court proceedings, or becoming violent in the courtroom. During these instances, the court has the authority to imprison or fine the contemnor, and the court decides the details of his release.

Civil contempt of court refers to actions made by one party toward the other party that does not comply with the court orders. Examples of civil contempt of court include failure to return the child on time after visitation or refusing to pay child support. If you are charged with civil contempt of court, you may be issued a fine or imprisonment depending on the charge. However, unlike criminal contempt of court, the contemnor may be released from prison or the fines may be dropped if he agrees to comply with the court orders.

Eittreim Martin Cutler Can Help

In child custody cases, if one party refuses to comply with the judge’s orders, you can partner with Eittreim Martin Cutler to file a motion of contempt of court to rectify the situation. We are very experienced with complex family matters and keep confidentiality at the forefront of our minds. Talk to us today: 770-225-7000