A contempt petition asks the court to find that a party has violated a court order and to impose appropriate remedies. In Arizona family law contempt is a powerful enforcement tool used when a party is willfully failing to comply with a court order.

To prevail on a contempt petition the moving party must show that the respondent had knowledge of a lawful court order, had the ability to comply, and failed to do so.

Contempt remedies include sanctions, attorney fee awards, and in civil contempt cases the possibility of incarceration until the contemnor purges the contempt by complying with the order.