Contempt Motions in Olympia

Are you having trouble with an ex-spouse that is refusing to pay court ordered child support or alimony? If so, then you already understand how much of a burden this can place on you and your children.

Fortunately, Washington law provides a means by which you can take action by filing a motion of contempt in court, and our Olympia contempt motion attorneys are well equipped to help you with this task. With more than 50 years of combined experience, our Olympia contempt lawyers can help you file a motion meant to help you get the support you’re owed. We recognize that children are often the ones affected by a parent who negligently refuses to obey an order of support, and our Olympia contempt motion attorneys can help you help them.

Also, when you complete the divorce process you should be able to move forward with your life without further aggravation. Still, if problems arise in the form of an ex-spouse’s negligence, then our Thurston County divorce enforcement attorneys can file a motion that will hopefully help resolve the problem.

Contempt of court is a phrase used to define a person’s refusal to cooperate with a court order issued by a judge. When an ex-spouse fails to render support, or even fulfill their visitation responsibilities, an Olympia divorce lawyer steps in and files a motion with the court on your behalf. While there are occasions when a person has a valid reason for falling behind on support, when the problem becomes chronic then our Olympia contempt motion attorneys have solid legal footing to take action.

One thing is certain; the punishments for a contempt conviction are swift and severe, and could result in expensive fines and jail time. The guilty party can also be held accountable for other fees, such as court costs and Washington divorce lawyer expenses.

The most common occurrence of contempt is the failure of a parent to pay child support. If this has happened to you then you need to talk to one of our Olympia divorce enforcement attorneys to ensure the well being of your children. It’s always a good idea to keep accurate record of your ex-spouses support payments (or lack thereof), so that when the time comes to make a motion in court our Olympia contempt motions attorneys can act swiftly.

Washington courts have little patience for anyone found in contempt, especially when their actions jeopardize a child or leave them without financial support. If you're found in contempt, the goal of punishment is to ensure that you obey the court order in the future. In an effort to accomplish this goal, a judge may do any or all of the following:

• Issue an order for professional counseling
• Issue an order to complete a parenting class
• Issue an order to seek employment
• Order future to hearing to ensure that the order is being obeyed

If you're served with a contempt motion, you will need help from an attorney to defend your interests. Some common defenses to contempt charges in family law cases include:

• Problems with subject matter jurisdiction
• Problems with personal jurisdiction
• You didn't violate any court order
• Failure to obey a court order was out of your controlling
• You were unaware a court order existed
• You didn't have enough time to respond
• The order was unclear or expired
• Various other reasons

Obviously, there are a lot of variables in play if your served an order of contempt. Your Olympia lawyer can help you deal with this situation and will ensure your legal rights are protected.

Neither you nor your family deserves to suffer hardship because of the negligence of an ex-spouse. You can find out if filing a motion is possible by talking to one of our Washington State divorce enforcement attorneys today – free of charge. This free consultation is your chance to get some answers specific to your Olympia case without any risk whatsoever.

Contact an Olympia divorce lawyer today and protect your family’s future by filing a motion in Washington Court.