Contempt guide
When the other person in your family court case won’t follow a court order, you can try to enforce it by filing a motion for contempt. (Forms and instructions)
Contents
1. What is contempt?
This guide is for family law cases, but some information also applies to other civil court cases in Washington State.
If you have a parenting plan, child support order, or other family law order from a Washington State Superior Court, and the other person in your case purposely won’t follow that order, it can be frustrating, and sometimes dangerous. When someone intentionally (on purpose) disobeys a court order, they are “in contempt” of court or of the court order. Contempt applies to both temporary and permanent (final) court orders.
Examples of contempt:
- The other parent won’t give you the court-ordered visitation you’re entitled to.
- The other parent doesn’t make reasonable efforts to require a child to visit you at the times the parenting plan states.
- The other parent doesn't pay child support or spousal support as ordered, and they have the ability to pay.
There are several things you can do to try to get the other person to follow the order. Most of these are different types of court actions, including filing a motion for contempt. This guide discusses alternatives to contempt and how to file contempt if that makes sense for your situation.