In Re the Marriage of Craig Weis, Petitioner and Melanie Weis, N/k/a Melanie Bergeron, Respondent

Summary

The court held that the automatic bankruptcy stay barred contempt proceedings against a chapter 13 debtor for failing to pay credit-card obligations imposed by her divorce decree. The domestic-support exception did not apply because no non-estate property was shown to be available for collection, and the criminal-proceeding exception did not apply because the contempt was civil in nature. The court vacated the contempt sanction and made its rule absolute.