What If My Ex Doesn’t Follow Our Divorce Agreement?
January 26, 2022
Tags: divorce contempt, divorce tips, paralegal divorce, Suffolk County NY Divorce Mediator
During a divorce, court orders will specify terms that you and your spouse agree to follow once the process is finalized. This works well for most couples, but what happens when your ex refuses to comply? Are you out of luck?
Fortunately, several things can be done to get both of you back on track (and retain your sanity).
When it’s clear that your ex-spouse isn’t following the terms of your divorce agreement, your first action could be to communicate with them. Sometimes, it’s completely unintentional and they may have overlooked or forgotten the terms. In this case, it can usually be resolved by speaking with your ex.
If your conversation leads you to conclude that your ex is deliberately not following the divorce agreement, a judge may decide to implement serious consequences. Examples of these include:
- Fines and legal fees
- Frozen accounts
- Loss of driver’s license, passport, or professional license
- Lien on business or house
- Withholding tax refunds
- Income garnishment
- Jail time
To remedy non-compliance with a judge’s orders, you can file for enforcement with the courts. The timeframe between when you file the request and when the courts take action varies based on many factors. However, you’ll find that the courts take non-compliance seriously, and they will work to get your ex to cooperate as soon as possible.
Disclaimer: please note that this article is not legal advice and should be used for informational purposes only. If you need legal advice you should retain an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The opinions expressed in this guide are solely those of the author, who is not an attorney.
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