A court order in a family law case, such as a divorce decree or a paternity judgment, is not a mere suggestion—it is a legally binding directive that both parties are required to follow. When one party fails to comply with the terms of the order, it can create significant hardship and frustration for the other. Fortunately, Florida law provides legal remedies to enforce these orders and hold the non-compliant party accountable.
If your former spouse or co-parent is not following a court order, the experienced family law attorneys at The Law Office of John Vernon Moore, P.A. can help you take action. Contact us for a confidential consultation to discuss your enforcement options.
Enforcing Family Law Orders in Florida
When a party willfully disobeys a court order, they can be held in contempt of court. A contempt action can be used to enforce a wide range of family law orders, including:
- Child Support: Failure to pay court-ordered child support.
- Alimony: Failure to pay court-ordered spousal support.
- Time-Sharing: Failure to follow the court-ordered parenting plan and time-sharing schedule.
- Equitable Distribution: Failure to transfer property or pay a monetary award as required by the divorce decree.
To hold a party in contempt, you must prove that they had the ability to comply with the court order and that their failure to do so was willful. If the court finds a party in contempt, it can impose a variety of sanctions to compel compliance, such as:
- Fines and attorney’s fees
- Incarceration
- Suspension of a driver’s license or professional license
- Wage garnishment
You should not have to tolerate a former spouse or co-parent’s disregard for a court order. The attorneys at The Law Office of John Vernon Moore, P.A., will aggressively pursue all available legal remedies to enforce your rights and ensure that the other party complies with their obligations. Contact us today for a free case review to get the learn more about contempt and enforcement actions.