Indirect contempt of court is the violation of a court order outside the immediate presence of the court. Indirect contempt can either be civil or criminal and is also known as constructive contempt of court.
Common reasons a party is found in indirect contempt of court include failing to attend a hearing, breaching the terms of probation, and refusing to turn over evidence subject to a subpoena.
Penalties for indirect contempt of court include fines and potential jail time. In the event the indirect contempt of court is of a civil nature, these penalties can be avoided by simply complying with the court order.
Indirect contempt of court is contrasted with direct contempt of court, or a violation of a court order in the presence of the court.
[Last updated in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]