Contempt for Delinquent Child Support

Are you behind on your child support payments and worried about contempt of court? If so, you need to first understand what contempt is, and what you should do about it.

The term "contempt of court" refers to when a court wants to enforce an existing order in the least amount of time. Although there are many examples of contempt of court, one can be applied to child support payments. Say, for example, that you owe $2,000 but you already have $15,000 in the bank. If the court learns about this situation, they could throw you in jail for contempt of court until you decide to make the payment.

However, there is a process that must happen before you are placed in contempt of court. The court must first prove that the order against you is valid, after which they must show that you have failed to comply with the order. Should you then be unable to prove that the court is incorrect, a purge will be ordered.

Have questions about contempt? Contact us to get advice and answers from a Jacksonville family lawyer.