What is Contempt of Court?
Contempt for failure to pay child support in Oklahoma is a legal process that can be initiated when a parent fails to make the required child support payments as ordered by the court. The purpose of a contempt action is to enforce the child support order and to hold the non-compliant parent accountable for their obligations.

A contempt action can be initiated by the parent who is owed child support, by the state child support enforcement agency, or by the district attorney. The court will hold a hearing to determine if the non-compliant parent is in contempt of the child support order. If the court finds that the parent has willfully failed to pay child support as ordered, the court may impose penalties, such as:

• Fines: The court may impose fines as a punishment for contempt of court.
• Imprisonment: In some cases, the court may order the non-compliant parent to serve time in jail as a penalty for contempt of court.
• Wage garnishment: The court may order wage garnishment, which is a legal process by which the non-compliant parent's wages are withheld to pay the child support owed.
• Seizure of assets: The court may order the seizure of the non-compliant parent's assets, such as bank accounts or property, to pay the child support owed.

It is important for parents to fulfill their child support obligations, as the failure to do so can result in serious legal consequences.