If a parent fails to follow the court’s child custody order, the other party may file a motion for contempt to bring the issue before the court.

A motion for contempt—as the name implies—is based on the uncooperative party’s contempt for the judge/court’s order. Ignoring the court’s order will have serious potential consequences, including loss of custody and payment of the other parent’s attorney fees and costs in filing the motion for contempt (coercive civil contempt).

And in some cases of repeated failures to comply with the custody order, the court may punish the uncooperative parent with jail time (criminal contempt).

In Pennsylvania, when a parent does not comply with a court-issued child custody order, the other parent has the right to file a motion for contempt. This legal action is taken to address the non-compliant parent's disregard for the court's authority. The consequences of such contempt can be significant. The court may order the non-compliant parent to pay the attorney fees and costs incurred by the other parent in bringing the motion. Additionally, the court may modify the existing custody arrangement, potentially resulting in a loss of custody rights for the non-compliant parent. In extreme cases, where there is repeated non-compliance, the court may impose criminal penalties, including jail time, to enforce compliance with the custody order. These measures are intended to ensure adherence to the custody arrangement and to uphold the authority of the court.