Civil Contempt, Criminal Contempt, and Motions to Show Cause Law Talk With Bill Powers | From Legal Issues and Legislation to Practice Tips, Professionalism, and Policy Discussions

Failure to comply with a Court Order in North Carolina ordinarily has consequences.

The nature of the Order and the type of alleged violation dictate the appropriate sanction, if any.

Divorce Lawyers regularly litigate issues involving:

Criminal Contempt
Civil Contempt of Court
Motions and Orders to Show Cause


Failure to comply with a Court's Order regarding child custody, visitation, child support, PSS - post separation support, and alimony are common themes of disputes may result in a Motion and Order to Show Cause.

The "cause" in that instance would be to show why one party "should not be held in contempt of court."

There are important differences regarding a Motion for Criminal Contempt and Civil Contempt Motions in North Carolina.

In this episode of Law Talk, Tonya Graser Smith joins Bill Powers in a discussion regarding the differences between Criminal and Civil Contempt, possible penalties/sanctions for each, and the real-world application of the NC family laws to disputes.

If you have a suggestion for a topic of discussion or would enjoy hearing a certain guest, please email us at:

LawTalkwithBillPowers@gmail.com

We strongly recommend listeners consult with an experienced family law attorney in Charlotte, NC about the specifics of your legal inquiry and/or particular matter.

The information contained on Law Talk with Bill Powers is not legal advice and therefore should not be relied upon as such.