Arizona probate litigation can get intense fast—missing inventories, stonewalled accountings, ignored turnover orders, withheld trust records, or parties “doing self-help” with estate or trust assets. When a judge is frustrated, it’s natural to see courts reach for contempt and monetary sanctions.
But Isom v. Isom (Division One, filed March 2, 2026) is a useful reminder: how a court labels (and structures) a monetary contempt sanction matters—because a sanction that is really criminal contempt triggers criminal-procedure protections, including hard limits on fines without a jury trial or waiver.
Even though Isom is a memorandum decision (not precedential), it’s still a practical