CONTEMPT OF COURT IN SAN DIEGO: GET THE LEGAL HELP YOU NEED

Enforcement of San Diego County Court Orders in Family Law Cases

All court orders are binding and must be complied with by all parties in a case. When court orders aren’t being followed, it’s essential to get legal representation from a family law attorney to protect your interests.

To enforce an order made by the San Diego Court, a party to a family law matter has the option of filing a contempt of court action against the other party. Essentially, the party who has not received the benefit of the court order is requesting the Court punish the offending party by either criminal or civil sanctions.

Theoretically, a party can be sentenced to five days in jail for each count of contempt. Each violation of a court order is considered a separate contempt count.

Proving Contempt of Court in San Diego Family Court

In a contempt action, the attorney for the moving party is acting as a prosecuting attorney and is required to prove the following elements: (1) that a valid court order exists; (2) that the offending party had knowledge of the court order; (3) that the offending party violated the court order; and (4) that the offending party had the ability to comply with the court order.

A contempt action can be useful when other enforcement remedies are not easily available. For example, if a self-employed party fails to pay child support or legally owed spousal support, the bringing of a contempt action may be effective in gaining future compliance. Another use of a contempt action is if one party has a frequent and ongoing pattern of violating child sharing orders.

Due to the serious consequences of a potential contempt conviction, except for the right to a jury trial, a contempt matter is handled as a criminal trial.

Results-Oriented Legal Counsel

“I would like to thank your family law firm for their excellent work on my case. They demonstrated knowledge, compassion, and toughness that resulted in a very positive outcome for me. Your firm has the intelligence, people skills, and experience to handle any complex case.”

Get Help from Top San Diego Family Lawyers

The Law Offices of Beatrice L. Snider, APC is experienced in both prosecuting and defending against contempt actions in San Diego County, CA. These proceedings are highly technical in nature and require experienced counsel to navigate through the procedures required. Contact our firm today to discuss your case and legal options.