If the motion and order have been served personally on the judgment debtor, as provided by law or if service is obtained pursuant to Article 1261, and the judgment debtor refuses to appear for the examination or to produce his books, papers, or other documents when ordered to do so, or if he refuses to answer any question held pertinent by the court, the judgment debtor may be punished for contempt.
Art. 2456.Contempt
Book IV. Execution of Judgments · Title II. Money Judgments · Chapter 5. Examination of Judgment Debtor · Last amended 1988 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 2456 authorizes contempt sanctions against a judgment debtor who was personally served, or served under Article 1261, with the motion and order for examination, and who then refuses to appear, refuses to produce required documents, or refuses to answer a pertinent question.
Full Text of Art. 2456
Amendment History
Amended by Acts 1988, No. 37, §1, eff. 6/10/1988.
Plain-English Summary
Article 2456 supplies the enforcement mechanism behind the examination articles that precede it. Without a real consequence for noncompliance, an order to appear and produce documents would be no more than a request, so this article backs it with the court's contempt power.
Contempt is not available the moment a debtor balks. The article conditions it on proper service: the motion and order have to be served on the judgment debtor personally, in the manner the law generally requires for personal service, or through the method described in Article 1261. That service requirement gives the debtor notice, on the record, of exactly what the court ordered before any refusal can carry consequences.
Once service is established, three kinds of refusal can trigger contempt: failing to appear for the examination, failing to produce the books, papers, or other documents the order called for, and refusing to answer a question the court considers pertinent. That last category matters in practice -- a debtor cannot show up, sit through questioning, and then decline to answer the questions that matter, because the court decides what counts as pertinent, not the debtor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a judgment debtor be held in contempt for not showing up to an examination?
Yes, provided the motion and order were properly served on him, either personally or under Article 1261.
What kind of service is required before contempt applies under Article 2456?
Personal service on the judgment debtor, or service under Article 1261.
Can a debtor answer some questions and refuse to answer others without consequence?
No. Refusing to answer a question the court holds pertinent can also support a contempt finding, not just refusing to appear or to produce documents.
What happens if the debtor was never properly served with the motion and order?
Contempt is not available. Article 2456 conditions the contempt sanction on proper personal service or service under Article 1261.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: contempt for refusing a judgment debtor examinationArticle 2456 Louisianadebtor refuses to appear for examinationservice requirement before contempt Louisianapenalty for refusing to answer at examination