In Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, civil contempt is a legal mechanism used to enforce custody orders. When one parent violates a custody order, the other parent can file a motion for civil contempt. The purpose of this motion is to ask the court to hold the violating parent in contempt of court and impose sanctions until the violating parent complies with the custody order.
To initiate a civil contempt action in Lackawanna County, the non-violating parent must file a motion with the court that issued the custody order. The motion must include specific details about how the other parent violated the order and what sanctions the non-violating parent is seeking. The violating parent will then be served with a copy of the motion and given an opportunity to respond.
If the court finds that the violating parent did indeed violate the custody order, it can hold that parent in contempt of court. Sanctions for civil contempt can include fines, attorney’s fees, and other punishments. However, before imposing any sanctions, the court will typically give the violating parent an opportunity to comply with the custody order.
It is important to note that civil contempt is not a criminal charge and does not result in a criminal record. It is simply a legal mechanism used to enforce custody orders.
In summary, civil contempt is an important tool for enforcing custody orders in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. If one parent violates a custody order, the other parent can file a motion for civil contempt and ask the court to impose sanctions until the violating parent complies with the order.