In a high-conflict parenting dispute, the responding parent moved for a contempt finding arising from repeated non-compliance with interim week-about parenting orders concerning two of the children.
Applying the contempt framework, the court found beyond a reasonable doubt that the moving party had notice of clear orders and failed to take the concrete parental steps necessary to require the children’s compliance, instead leaving them with the impression that parenting time was optional.
The court accepted that caution is required in family contempt matters and, prioritizing the children’s best interests, declined to proceed immediately to a formal contempt order.
A staged reintegration order was imposed for June through August 2022, with the original week-about regime to resume on September 1, 2022, and a further status hearing scheduled.
