Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

How do you file a contempt action?

Since my wife's divorce with her ex, her ex won custody of her children due to financial difficulties my wife had at the time. Since then, her ex has made it extremely impossible for my wife to visit her children. He is never willing to provide any support financially to have the kids come out one way or drive anywhere that exceeds a 5-mile radius from his home. Normally, he'll try to dictate when they meet and what time they meet, without taking the travel arrangement plans set forth in the parenting plan or work with her to improve traveling conditions for the kids. At this point, he also refuses to provide my wife with any required information regarding the children's educational development/progress reports that my wife has a right to as a joint custodial parent. We've been told that he is always pushing that line of being held in contempt, so we would like to know how to file within the State of Washington. We'd like to know what could be done, if anything, so the issue doesn't become more of a focus on control, but what is ultimately better for the children. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!


Asked on 6/14/08, 2:42 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Steuart IT Forensics, Inc.

Re: How do you file a contempt action?

It is unclear from your question if this is a CA case or WA case, but you use WA parenting language so I am going to guess this is a Washington case. To file contempt in Washington, you present a motion in ex parte that generates an order to show cause why they should not be held in contempt. You then serve on the other party.

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Answered on 6/14/08, 7:38 pm


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