How can a person purge themselves of civil contempt?

• A. By paying a monetary penalty to the court.
• B. By filing a new civil suit.
• C. By complying with the court order.
• D. By holding a press conference.

Answer: (C)

Purge of civil contempt happens when you stand in obedience to what the court has ordered. Civil contempt is a tool the court uses to coerce compliance with a court order, so the remedy is to do what the order requires. Once you fully comply or correct the violation, the basis for holding you in contempt disappears, and the court typically releases you from the coercive consequences.

Monetary payment isn’t the general way to purge. It would only purge if the specific order required a payment and you satisfy that obligation. Filing a new civil suit won’t address the existing contempt, and a press conference has no effect on the court’s order. So the clear path to purge is to comply with the court order.