Florida Enforcement of Divorce Decrees and other Court Orders

So now, you have your court order awarding alimony, child support, and equitable distribution. GREAT. But wait a minute, you have your court order or judgment and they still won’t pay. Once again, in Florida family law, most things are complicated. There are several different ways in which we can help you enforce your divorce judgment or family law court order. The remedy really depends upon what you are trying to enforce.

Contempt

Contempt of court is available for failing to pay alimony or child support. In Florida, Contempt of Court is a very powerful tool as the Judge can jail someone for up to 179 days for failing to pay alimony or child support. We have filed countless motions for contempt where a parent or spouse has not paid their court ordered alimony or child support. We are more than willing and able to file a motion for contempt when contempt is appropriate. On the other hand, we also have helped people prove for various reasons that child support or alimony is not due or why contempt is not an appropriate remedy. Having been on both sides of support issues, we can help you deal with a spouse’s failure to pay alimony or child support. That said, if you do not owe alimony or child support and you have been sued we are here to help you too.

Enforcement

So, what happens if the Judge ordered your spouse to pay the credit card and for whatever reason they just refuse to pay the credit card bill. In most cases, contempt may not be available for enforcement. In this circumstance, the court will have the right to enforce their judgment, but most likely jail will not be the remedy for failing to pay a creditor. Although jail may not be available, the judge can still enter a judgment and order the other side to pay for your attorney’s fees.

Once again, family law is not easy. The best thing to do is to sit with us and let us help you enforce your award of child support, alimony or equitable distribution.

What about enforcing my time with kids my in Florida?

If a parent refuses to allow court ordered timesharing the Judge has many remedies at his or her disposal. The Judge can hold someone in contempt for failing to follow the judge’s timesharing order. Also, the judge can order the offending parent to pay attorney’s fees for failing to follow the court’s order. In some circumstances the Judge can order make up timesharing for the time that was improperly lost.

If you are a parent who is having a timesharing issue, feel free to give us a call at 954-385-1536.

We would be happy to meet you in one of our family law offices in Weston or Coral Springs, Florida.