What is a contempt of court?

Contempt of court is when a person willfully disobeys a court order or act in a manner that is disrespectful or disruptive to the court proceedings. In Florida, when a person is accused of contempt of court, they will be charged with criminal contempt, indirect criminal contempt, or civil contempt and the penalties for each can vary. Criminal contempt involves a violation of a judge’s order with the intent to embarrass, harass, hinder, or obstruct the court. This type of contempt is considered criminal and can be punished with incarceration, fines, or both. Indirect criminal contempt is when a person intentionally disregards a court order by not showing up to court or failing to follow the court order. In Florida, if convicted of indirect criminal contempt, a person may be punished with up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. Civil contempt involves violating an order which is designed to benefit someone other than the court. Examples of civil contempt of court include not complying with a court order to pay alimony, child support, or other court ordered payments. In Florida, if someone is convicted of civil contempt, they may be required to pay the amount they failed to pay previously or be sentenced to jail time depending on the situation.

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