Custody

If the other parent doesn’t follow your temporary or final custody and visitation order, you can file for contempt. If the judge believes the other parent purposely disobeyed the order, the judge can hold him/her in contempt and send him/her to jail for up to 30 days. Alternatively, the judge can instead do any of the following:

• give you extra visitation to make up for missed visitation time;
• give you joint custody or change which parent has custody;
• require both parents to participate in mediation to work out joint custody issues;
• direct both parents to provide contact with the child through a neutral third person or a neutral site or center; or
• order other specific requirements to deal with the violation.¹

If you win the contempt case, the judge can order the other parent to pay for your attorney’s fees and other court costs.²

¹ IA ST § 598.23
² IA ST § 598.24