Legal Question in Family Law in Florida

motion for contempt/stay

My ex has filed a motion for contempt against me for not making several different payments as ordered in our final judgment. The case is currently under appeal and some of those payments (related to taxes and insurance on the former marital home, which was awarded to him) are under appeal. The other payments are part of marital debt which I have now paid.

Will the court likely find me in contempt and what does that mean? I cannot afford to make all these payments, in addition to legal fees, credit card debts and child support payments.

Which debts should be paid first when you owe everyone money??

I have also filed a motion to stay since the case is under appeal.


Asked on 4/06/08, 10:37 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Brent Rose The Orsini & Rose Law Firm

Re: motion for contempt/stay

You haven't supplied enough information for an attorney to give you a good answer. Generally speaking, you can't be held in contempt for not making payments that don't relate to alimony or child support, but there are many exceptions to that rule.

If it were me, I'd make the payments that would keep me out of jail first. But it sounds like you need a good family lawyer right away.

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Answered on 4/08/08, 2:06 pm


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