PA Contempt: Prove the Broken Order
Pennsylvania's civil contempt petition for disobedience of a custody order is an enforcement lane in county Court of Common Pleas. It works when the order's language is specific enough to compare to real life. It fails when your real need is a new plan because the old one does not fit the child's week anymore. Contempt is about compliance; modification is about new terms.
Pull the clause
The exact language governing the missed time or decision.
Build the log
Planned vs actual, proof handle per row.
Ask for trackable relief
Make-up time, clarity, compliance mechanics, not vague punishment.
| Contempt-shaped | Modification-shaped |
|---|---|
| Readable pickup and return rules; repeated misses | Schedule cannot work after move, school, or care change |
| You can quote the paragraph being ignored | You need different signed language, not better compliance |
Documentation before captions
If you cannot build a tight log yet, start with the denied-time lane; rushing contempt without order-matched rows wastes credibility.
Opening a case instead? Complaint for custody. Changing terms? Petition to modify.
Related guides
More Pennsylvania forms
State guides (overview)
General support (not Pennsylvania-specific)
Official sources
- PA Courts Form 6 civil contempt (PDF): https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210224/170917-form6petitionforcivilcontemptfordisobedienceofcustodyorder-003889.pdf
- PA Courts custody proceedings (self-represented): https://www.pacourts.us/learn/representing-yourself/custody-proceedings
Contempt FAQs
What is civil contempt trying to prove in plain language?
That a clear custody order exists, the other party knew what it required, and identifiable violations happened anyway. It is not a second bite at every fight you lost in negotiation.
When is modification smarter than contempt?
When the order is the problem: the schedule is unworkable, facts changed, or the language is too vague to enforce. Contempt needs something a reader can match to a miss.
What makes contempt paperwork weak on the first read?
No quoted order lines, no dated log, screenshots without an index, or a long rewrite of the parenting plan disguised as enforcement.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-03
MyCustodyCoach is not a law firm. Court rules, fees, and form versions change by county; confirm what applies to your case with official court resources or counsel you hire.