
In addition, if you have not been receiving child support, depending on the circumstances you can put the non-paying parent in jail for non-payment or suspend their hunting or driver's license or have the court order them to work. (Contempt-Additional Penalties for Child Support Delinquency, I.C. Sec 7-612)
The penalties for not complying with a child support order can be very serious and can result in 5 days of jail for each instance of contempt for a total of 30 days in jail if it is regarding non-payment of child support. (Contempt-Judgment Penalty, I.C. Sec. 7-610)
CONTEMPT FOR ANYTHING. Generally you can request that a court find someone in contempt for not complying with anything that they were previously ordered to do, whether child support, alimony, paying a credit card, following a custody schedule, etc. The possible sanctions, possible defenses and chances for success vary widely.
AN ATTORNEY IS NEEDED FOR CONTEMPT. Contempt actions are very difficult and the possibility of success in defending or prosecuting an action varies dramatically depending on the County or the Judge hearing the issue. An attorney with practical experience is absolutely necessary.
You will need an attorney if you want to file a contempt motion to collect child support or if a contempt action has been filed against you.
CRIMINAL CONTEMPT. In Idaho a party to a case may seek to enforce an order through criminal contempt. Criminal contempt is generally asking the court to find that a party is in contempt for not doing something in the past, that can't be presently fixed. For example, someone was ordered to do a certain thing at a certain time and they didn't, they can't go back in time to fix the fact that it was not done. In other words the act once done cannot be undone. Or the inaction can't be remedied. (I.R.C.P. 75 Contempt)
CIVIL CONTEMPT. In Idaho when someone has not done what they were ordered to do in a decree or order then you can ask the court to impose a penalty upon them if they don't comply in the future. In civil contempt a penalty can be avoided if something is done. For example, if someone is behind in child support then the court could order child support arrears to be paid in full by a certain date or else jail time or a fine would be imposed. Even once contempt is found a penalty can be avoided by complying by a certain time. (I.R.C.P. 75 Contempt)
DEFENSE OF INABILITY TO COMPLY. If someone has filed a contempt action against you there is a defense available that you were unable or are unable to comply. There are other defenses but these defenses are very technical and time-sensitive, contact an attorney immediately. (I.R.C.P. 75 Contempt)
Contempt-Judgment Penalty, I.C. Sec. 7-610
(6) Civil sanction. A civil sanction is one that is conditional. The contemnor can avoid the sanction entirely or have it cease by doing what the contemnor had previously been ordered by the court to do. A civil sanction can only be imposed if the contempt consists of failing to do what the contemnor had previously been ordered by the court to do.
(7) Criminal sanction. A criminal sanction is one that is unconditional. The contemnor cannot avoid the sanction entirely or have it cease by doing what the contemnor had been previously ordered by the court to do. A suspended sanction with probationary conditions is a criminal sanction, as is a sanction that includes provisions that are both conditional (civil) and unconditional (criminal). A criminal sanction may be imposed for any contempt.
Contempt-Additional Penalties for Child Support Delinquency, I.C. Sec 7-612
In addition to the penalties for contempt contained in this chapter, the following additional penalties are available for a child support delinquency:
(1) Work activities. In all cases under chapter 2, title 56, Idaho Code, where the custodial parent or children receive temporary assistance for families in Idaho, and the obligor owes past due support and is not incapacitated, the court may issue an order requiring the obligor to participate in work activities.
(2) License suspension. Pursuant to chapter 14, title 7, Idaho Code, the court may issue an order suspending a license for a child support delinquency as defined by section 7-1402, Idaho Code.