Enforcement of Orders
by Aaron Dishon, Esq.
Many remedies are available to enforce court orders, both with respect to custody, as well as with respect to child and spousal support orders. Some of the most common of these remedies include:
Contempt:
A party subject to a valid order who with knowledge of the order and the ability to comply with the order, fails to comply with the terms of the order, is subject to contempt charges.
Usually, contempt is quasi-criminal in nature, and the burden of proof of the moving party is typically "beyond a reasonable doubt." A party may be found in contempt for many violations, including failing to abide by custody orders, failure to pay support, and other violations. If the citee is found guilty, they are subject to jail time as well as being fined.
