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Contempt of Court

If your spouse, former spouse, or the other parent of your children is willfully and intentionally disobeying or failing to comply with a court order, a contempt of court action may be sought to force the other party to comply with the order.

When a court issues an order regarding custody, payment of expenses, including child support, alimony, child care, or other requirements in a divorce decree (such as refinancing the mortgage on a home), it becomes legally binding and must be followed.  If the order is not followed and one party is found to have intentionally disobeyed the order, it is possible for him or her to be found in contempt of court.

If a party is held in contempt of court, there are a variety of possible consequences.  These include, a subsequent direct order from the court regarding specific instructions to follow, payment of attorney fees, payment plans for past-due support obligations, payment of fines, or even jail time.

If you believe your spouse, former spouse, or the other parent of your children has violated a court order, contact our office to schedule a consultation to find out how you can effectively enforce the court order to ensure it is complied with.