Section 24.24 Contempt

• Library: Family Law Deskbook and 2014 Supp

C. (§24.24) Contempt

A fine is appropriate punishment in a civil contempt proceeding if it is related to the actual damage suffered by the injured party and is payable to that party. In Divine v. Divine, 769 S.W.2d 847 (Mo. App. S.D. 1989), the wife was awarded the house, and the husband removed a number of fixtures. The amount of the fine imposed by the court was an amount similar to the cost of the items and labor needed to install the fixtures.

See §24.9 above relating to the availability of contempt to enforce provisions of a decree. But in the specific context of enforcing property division provisions, the authors suggest that counsel should request a trial court to enter a specific provision directing a party to deliver...