T. Engelking

The respondent mother brought a motion seeking findings of contempt against the applicant father for alleged breaches of a final parenting order, including issues related to daycare drop-offs, summer camps, and extracurricular activities.

The court dismissed the motion, finding that the alleged transgressions did not meet the strict threshold for civil contempt and that some had reasonable explanations or were minor.

The court noted that contempt should be a remedy of last resort and encouraged the parties to use mediation or a motion to change to resolve their disputes.

The applicant father and respondent mother separated after a short relationship with two children.

The father sought joint custody, equal parenting time, and rescission of child support arrears.

The mother sought sole custody, child support, spousal support, and a police enforcement clause due to the father's history of overholding the children.

The court ordered joint custody but granted the mother final decision-making authority and primary residence, with the father having parenting time three weekends per month.

The court ordered child support based on the father's imputed and actual income, rescinded arrears only for a brief reconciliation period, found the mother entitled to spousal support at a quantum of zero, and granted the police enforcement clause.