Five Reasons Why People Violate Family Court Orders

When you’ve just been through a painful divorce or child custody dispute, you may feel a sense of relief knowing that at least there is a final court order outlining both parties’ responsibilities and obligations. It can be nice to finally know that a court has heard the matter and reached a final decision. In other cases, perhaps you and your ex have reached an agreement with respect to custody, visitation, monetary awards, alimony, child support, and so forth. So, it can be very frustrating when you see the other person begin ignoring legal obligations. But don’t despair; there are options for enforcing court orders.

To better understand why people default on their obligations, here are just 5 of the most common reasons why people violate court orders after a divorce or child custody matter.

#1 Inability to Pay

It is probably best to start with the most common reason for default: lack of ability. Many people simply lose their job, have their work hours reduced, or struggle to pay their own bills. When finances are strapped, people might have a legitimate difficulty paying child support, alimony or other obligations. When this happens, these individuals should petition the court for modification of the court order, rather than simply stopping payments altogether. This can be challenging though, and many people simply give up.

#2 Pride

Let’s not forget that being told that a person must pay an ex can hurt their pride and make them feel indignant. It often takes a great deal of humility to accept one’s circumstances and make payments, even when it feels unjust.

#3 Anger

Of course, some ex-spouses may simply hate each other and feel a sense of moral outrage at having to make payments. Anger, resentment, and other negative emotions may overcome a person’s common sense, leaving them to directly and intentionally violate court orders, thereby putting themselves at risk.

#4 Misunderstanding

Perhaps it’s an optimistic view, but many people simply don’t get good legal advice during or after a family court case. Self-represented parties and those who cannot understand the legal ramifications of a willful refusal to pay can lead people to make poor choices. This is yet another reason to make sure you have an experienced Maryland divorce attorney.

#5 Greed

Lastly, some people are simply greedy. These individuals put themselves above their children and above the law. They feel that they are not going to be caught or face any consequences. Sadly, this is just not the case. There are ways to hold willful violators accountable and force them to pay.

Getting Help With Enforcing a Court Order

With the help of a skilled divorce and family law attorney, you may be able to garnish the individual’s wages, assert liens on property, have their licenses revoked, or even have them punished criminally (especially in the case of child support violations). Every case is unique, so call the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. in Maryland today to get answers to your court order enforcement questions.

Resource:

mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/collectingjudgment