What penalties can a judge impose if someone is found in contempt for denying parenting time?

A finding of contempt gives a judge broad discretion to fashion a remedy that fits the seriousness and pattern of the breach, rather than a single fixed penalty. Common responses include ordering costs against the parent found in contempt, ordering compensatory parenting time to make up for what was wrongfully denied, and adjusting the parenting schedule going forward if the existing terms have proven unworkable in practice. Courts generally look for a remedy that addresses the harm and encourages future compliance rather than one aimed purely at punishment.

In more serious or repeated cases, a judge can impose a fine or, in extreme and persistent situations, consider incarceration, though this is treated as a last resort rather than a typical outcome, since courts are conscious that a parent's imprisonment can itself disrupt a child's stability. What a judge actually orders depends heavily on the facts: how often parenting time was denied, whether there's a pattern of ongoing defiance, and whether less drastic remedies were tried first. Anyone considering a contempt motion, or responding to one, should get advice on what outcome is realistic given their specific facts rather than assuming the harshest possible penalty will follow automatically.