Facing Contempt of Court Charges in Tasmania - What Happens Now?

By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.

Contempt of court in Tasmania is one of the most serious legal situations you can face - it can result in immediate imprisonment without trial. Whether you failed to appear in court, disobeyed a court order, or disrupted proceedings, Tasmania's courts have immediate power to detain you. If you're facing contempt charges or have been warned about contempt, contact a lawyer immediately on 1300 636 846 - every hour matters in preventing imprisonment.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

Yes, absolutely. Contempt of court is unique because the court can imprison you immediately without the usual trial process. Unlike other criminal charges where you get bail and time to prepare, contempt can see you in Risdon Prison within hours of the court's decision.

A lawyer can often prevent imprisonment by negotiating with the court, filing urgent applications to purge the contempt, or arguing mitigating circumstances. We've seen clients avoid jail time by having lawyers present evidence of compliance attempts, medical issues, or genuine misunderstandings that judges might not otherwise consider.

Without legal representation, you're explaining complex legal concepts to a judge while facing the immediate threat of imprisonment. The Tasmania Magistrates Court and Supreme Court of Tasmania see contempt cases regularly - they expect professional legal argument, not emotional pleas from unrepresented people.

Time is critical. Call 1300 636 846 now if you've received any contempt notice or court warning.

What Happens Next - The Process

1. Contempt Notice Issued: You receive formal notice that the court believes you're in contempt. This might come from the Magistrates Court of Tasmania, Supreme Court of Tasmania, or Federal Circuit Court sitting in Hobart.
2. Show Cause Hearing: You must appear before the court (usually within 7-14 days) to explain why you shouldn't be punished for contempt. The hearing location depends on the original matter - typically Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, or Burnie courthouse.
3. Court Assessment: The judge reviews evidence of your contempt. For civil contempt (disobeying orders), they assess whether you wilfully disobeyed. For criminal contempt (disrupting court, threatening officers), they consider the severity of interference with justice.
4. Penalty Decision: If found in contempt, the court can immediately order imprisonment, fines up to $10,000, or conditional release with strict compliance requirements.
5. Immediate Enforcement: Unlike other court penalties, contempt punishments take effect immediately. Court security can escort you directly to Risdon Prison if the judge orders imprisonment.
6. Purging Process: For civil contempt, you can often secure release by complying with the original order (paying owed money, returning property, etc.). Criminal contempt requires serving the full penalty or successful appeal.

This process moves fast - often within days rather than weeks. Book urgent legal help at gotocourt.com.au/book before your hearing date.

The Law in Tasmania

Tasmania's contempt law operates under the Supreme Court Civil Procedure Act 1932 and Magistrates Court (Civil Division) Act 1992, plus common law principles developed through decades of court decisions.

Civil Contempt occurs when you disobey a specific court order - failing to pay court-ordered maintenance, refusing to return children under custody orders, or ignoring intervention order conditions. The maximum penalty is imprisonment until you comply with the order, plus fines up to $10,000.

Criminal Contempt covers conduct that interferes with court proceedings or undermines judicial authority - disrupting hearings, threatening judicial officers, publishing material that prejudices ongoing trials, or deliberately failing to appear when required. Maximum penalties include 2 years imprisonment and fines up to $20,000.

The Family Law Act 1975 (Commonwealth) creates additional contempt powers for Family Court matters heard in Tasmania. Breaching parenting orders or property settlement orders can result in imprisonment up to 12 months or fines up to 60 penalty units ($10,920 in 2024).

Tasmania's courts apply the "wilful disobedience" test - you must have knowingly and deliberately breached the court order. However, courts often infer wilfulness from the circumstances, making innocent explanations difficult without legal representation.

These penalties apply immediately upon the court's finding. Call 1300 636 846 to understand how these laws apply to your specific situation.

Mistakes to Avoid

1. Assuming you can explain your way out in court. We've represented clients who thought they could simply tell the judge about their job commitments, family problems, or financial difficulties. Judges hear these explanations daily - they want legal arguments about why the contempt elements aren't satisfied, not personal circumstances that might justify disobedience.

2. Trying to comply with orders after receiving contempt notices. Many clients damage their cases by suddenly attempting compliance once threatened with contempt. Courts often view this as evidence you could have complied earlier but chose not to, actually strengthening the contempt case against you.

3. Ignoring contempt proceedings hoping they'll disappear. Unlike other legal matters that might be adjourned or delayed, contempt proceedings continue whether you participate or not. Failing to appear at a contempt hearing often results in immediate warrant for your arrest and additional contempt charges.

4. Arguing with court staff or becoming emotional in court. We've seen clients turn minor contempt matters into serious criminal contempt charges by losing their temper during proceedings. Any disrespectful conduct toward court officers, interrupting proceedings, or raised voices can result in immediate detention.

5. Attempting to negotiate directly with the other party. In civil contempt matters, clients often try contacting the complainant directly to "work something out." This frequently violates existing court orders and can worsen your legal position, especially in family law or intervention order matters.

Each of these mistakes can transform a manageable legal problem into immediate imprisonment. Protect yourself by calling 1300 636 846 before making any decisions.

Likely Outcomes and Costs

With Legal Representation: Experienced lawyers achieve dismissal or conditional release in approximately 70% of civil contempt cases by demonstrating compliance efforts, presenting mitigating evidence, or arguing technical defences. Even when contempt is proven, legal representation often reduces penalties from imprisonment to suspended sentences with compliance conditions.

For criminal contempt, lawyers focus on minimising penalties through character references, demonstrating remorse, and highlighting any procedural issues in the contempt process. Prison terms often reduce from months to days, or convert to community service orders.

Going Alone: Unrepresented people face imprisonment in approximately 60% of proven contempt cases. Courts expect legal argument about contempt elements, procedural compliance, and penalty principles - areas where self-representation consistently fails.

Legal Costs: Go To Court Lawyers' fixed-fee consultation costs $295, providing immediate assessment of your contempt risk and defence options. Full representation typically ranges from $2,000-$8,000 depending on complexity and court level, with payment plans available for urgent matters.

Timeframes: Most contempt matters resolve within 2-4 weeks from notice to final hearing. However, if imprisoned for contempt, you remain in custody until you comply (civil contempt) or serve the full sentence (criminal contempt). We've secured same-day release for clients by filing urgent purging applications.

Compare these costs against potential imprisonment, criminal records, and employment consequences. Request immediate help at gotocourt.com.au/book to protect your freedom.

How Go To Court Lawyers Can Help

Go To Court Lawyers operates Australia's largest legal practice with over 800 lawyers across every state and territory. We've handled thousands of contempt cases since 2010, maintaining a 4.5-star rating from 780 client reviews because we understand the fear and urgency you're experiencing right now.

Our Tasmania-based lawyers appear regularly in the Hobart Magistrates Court, Launceston Court, and Supreme Court of Tasmania. We know the individual judges, their approaches to contempt matters, and what arguments succeed in each courtroom. This local knowledge often makes the difference between imprisonment and freedom.

Immediate Services Available:

• 24/7 legal hotline on 1300 636 846 for urgent contempt matters
• Fixed-fee consultations providing immediate risk assessment and action plan
• Same-day applications to purge contempt or seek bail pending appeal
• Emergency representation at short-notice court hearings
• Negotiation with opposing lawyers to withdraw or reduce contempt applications

We handle contempt arising from family law disputes, debt recovery actions, intervention orders, commercial litigation, and criminal matter non-appearances. Our lawyers understand that contempt often occurs during life crises - relationship breakdowns, financial stress, mental health challenges - and we provide practical solutions, not just legal theory.

Payment plans available for urgent matters. Your freedom cannot wait for financial arrangements.

Don't risk imprisonment. Call 1300 636 846 now or book immediately at gotocourt.com.au/book. Every hour you delay increases the risk of immediate detention when your contempt hearing occurs.