Judges make rulings in divorce and other family law proceedings, but often people fail to follow court orders. It is sometimes necessary to return to court to ask for help enforcing court orders. You may need legal help to enforce orders to pay debts, return marital property, pay child support or spousal support, or to give you access to your children. The experienced attorneys of Shaffer Family Law will inform you of your options under Arizona law and advocate for your rights. We work with individuals throughout Maricopa county and the surrounding communities.
How Can I Get My Ex to Comply with the Divorce Order, Pay Support or Allow Me to See My Kids?
Your judgment of divorce or other court orders should clearly state the terms of your marital property division, what alimony or child support you are due, as well as your rights to child custody and visitation (also known as parenting time). If your former spouse or your child’s other parent is not complying, there are a number of ways a family law attorney and the courts can help:
Negotiation or Mediation. Often, if you and your ex are having trouble communicating—or if you disagree about what the terms of a court order mean—attorneys or a mediator can help get things back on track by offering neutral support to help you reach agreement, or by advocating on your behalf.
A letter from your attorney. Particularly after an acrimonious divorce, some ex-spouses drag their feet before giving up property or complying with final orders regarding custody or support. Sometimes a simple letter from your attorney—either to your former spouse or to his or her attorney—will convince your ex that you are serious about enforcement and will take legal action if he or she does not comply.
Garnishment or wage assignment. If your ex owes you support payments (or is in “arrears”) and the court has not already ordered the payments to paid from your ex’s work income, you can petition the court to have the money garnished directly from his or her paycheck.
Contempt of Court. When a parent or ex-spouse willfully fails to comply with a court order, the most extreme option in Arizona involves petitioning the court to hold the non-complying party in contempt of court. This may result in criminal proceedings and possible jail time or other punishments if the party is found guilty.
The divorce and family law attorneys of Shaffer Family Law have years of experience advocating for our clients’ interests by means tailored to each client’s specific situation and concerns. Regardless of whether we represented you in your divorce, we can work with you to enforce your divorce decree and related orders. Alternatively, if your circumstances have changed since your divorce and you believe you should have more time with your kids—or that a support order should be changed—we can help you to petition the court to modify the original order.
Serving Maricopa County and Surrounding Communities
The Chandler attorneys of Shaffer Family Law serve Maricopa County and the surrounding communities, including Pinal, Pima, Yavapai, and Coconino counties. Contact Shaffer Family Law online or call (480) 470-3030 today to speak with us about enforcing a divorce decree or other agreement or court order.