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Civil Contempt

The Divorce Dictionary is your plain-language guide to 400+ legal, financial, and emotional terms. Whether you're considering divorce or deep in the process, this compassionate glossary helps you feel informed, empowered, and supported—one term at a time. Civil contempt means that if someone ignores a court order (like not paying support or not following the custody plan), they can be held in civil contempt. That means they may face fines or other penalties.