Initiation

(a) Moving Documents-Service; Notice. Contempt proceedings shall be initiated by notice of motion and motion or by an order to show cause served upon the person of the alleged contemnor together with motions accompanied by appropriate supporting affidavits. Pursuant to Rule 303.05 an order to show cause may be issued by the court without notice to the alleged contemnor provided the supporting affidavits credibly raise an issue of contempt. (b) Content of Order to Show Cause or Notice of Motion and Motion. The order to show cause shall direct the alleged contemnor to appear and show cause why he or she should not be held in contempt of court and why the moving party should not be granted the relief requested by the motion. If proceeding by notice of motion and motion, the motion may seek that relief directly. The notice of motion and motion or order to show cause shall contain at least the following: (1) a reference to the specific order or judgment of the court alleged to have been violated and the date of entry or filing of the order or judgment; (2) a quotation of the specific applicable provisions ordered; (3) the alleged failures to comply; (4) notice to the alleged contemnor that his or her ability to pay is a crucial issue in the contempt proceeding and that a Parenting/Financial Disclosure Statement form for submitting ability to pay information is available from the state court website, and this form should be served and filed with the court at or before the contempt hearing; and (5) a date to appear for a Rule 309.02 hearing no later than 60 days after the issuance of the notice of motion or order to show cause. (c) Affidavits. The supportive affidavit of the moving party shall set forth each alleged violation of the order with particularity. Where the alleged violation is a failure to pay sums of money, the affidavit shall state the kind of payments in default and shall specifically set forth the payment dates and the amounts due, paid and unpaid for each failure. Any responsive affidavit shall set forth with particularity any defenses the alleged contemnor will present to the court. Where the alleged violation is a failure to pay sums of money, the affidavit shall set forth the nature, dates and amount of payments, if any. (Amended effective January 1, 2010; amended effective May 1, 2012; amended effective July 1, 2015.) Published by the Revisor of Statutes under Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.08, subdivision 1. 209 GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE MINNESOTA COURT RULES Family Court Rules Advisory Committee Commentary* Service of the order to show cause upon the person provides jurisdiction for the issuance of a writ of attachment or bench warrant, if necessary, and meets the requirement or an opportunity to be heard. See Clausen v. Clausen, 250 Minn. 293, 84 N.W.2d 675 (1976); Hopp v. Hopp, 279 Minn. 170, 156 N.W.2d 212 (1968). *Original Advisory Committee Comment-Not kept current. Task Force Comment - 1991 Adoption Subdivision (a) of this rule is derived from existing Rule 8.01 of the Rules of Family Court Procedure. Subdivision (b) of this rule is derived from existing Rule 8.01 of the Rules of Family Court Procedure. The new language is derived from Second District Local Rule 8.011. Advisory Committee Comment - 2009 Amendment