In Re Marriage of Harvey

The trial court sentenced the father, respondent-appellant Bruce Harvey, to 60 days’ imprisonment for wilful contempt of a court order to pay child support to the mother, petitioner-appellee Marianne Harvey. The father appeals the sentence arguing, inter alia, that the court erroneously found him in and sentenced him for wilful contempt. We reverse in part and remand.

The parties’ marriage was dissolved in 1981. Pursuant to the dissolution order, the mother was awarded custody of their two minor children and the father was ordered to pay $40 in child support per week. In August of 1983,…