Contempt and Enforcement Lawyer

• Missed support payments
• Withheld parenting time
• Unreturned property
• Refusal to comply with financial obligations outlined in a divorce decree

These issues can arise during active proceedings or years after a judgment is finalized.

Our family law order enforcement lawyers handle contempt filings, responses to contempt complaints, and negotiations to resolve disputes before they reach a hearing. We also work with clients who want to enforce specific terms of an agreement or court order without pursuing full contempt proceedings.

Related Services

Child Support | Divorce Modifications | Alimony | Child Custody

Contempt and enforcement matters can involve nearly any obligation set by a family court. We represent clients across the most common enforcement scenarios and the less common ones that require legal expertise.

Enforcing Child Support and Alimony Orders

When a former spouse falls behind on child support or alimony, the financial pressure can affect every part of your daily life. We help clients pursue enforcement through contempt proceedings, which can result in back payments, wage garnishment, sanctions, and orders requiring the noncompliant party to cover your attorney fees.

Enforcing Custody and Parenting Time Orders

If the other parent won’t follow a custody order or repeatedly interferes with your scheduled parenting time, enforcement action can restore your access and put consequences in place to prevent it from happening again. In serious cases, courts may modify the underlying custody arrangement as a result of repeated violations.

Enforcing Property Division and Financial Obligations

Divorce decrees often include specific obligations regarding asset transfers, property sales, insurance coverage, or the division of retirement accounts. When one party refuses to follow through, we can pursue enforcement to compel compliance and recover damages caused by the delay.

Defending Against a Contempt Complaint

Being served with a contempt complaint can be stressful, but it doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be found in violation. We help clients respond strategically and present a strong defense at the hearing.

A contempt case begins when one party files a complaint with the court that issued the original order. The other party is served and given notice of the hearing. At the hearing, the person filing must show that the order was clear and that the other party failed to comply despite having the ability to do so.

If the court finds a violation, there are multiple outcomes. A judge can order compliance, impose financial penalties, award attorney fees, adjust parenting schedules to make up lost time, or in severe and repeated cases, impose a period of incarceration. The outcome depends on the nature of the violation and whether the noncompliant party can show a legitimate reason for falling short.

• We start by reviewing the original order, the facts surrounding the alleged violation, and the outcome you’re looking for.
• We evaluate your legal options and recommend a path forward, whether that involves filing a complaint, responding to one, or pursuing resolution outside of court.
• We represent you at the hearing or in negotiations, with a focus on obtaining a concrete result that addresses the violation.
• We follow through on any orders entered by the court and help you plan for next steps if further enforcement is needed.

Enforcement cases can move quickly and lead to substantial consequences. At Turco Legal, we prepare every contempt matter with the same level of detail we bring to trial-level family law disputes, because that’s often where enforcement hearings end up.

Our team has experience filing and defending contempt actions, and we understand how judges evaluate contempt claims, what evidence carries weight, and how to position a case for the strongest possible result. The preparation we take makes a difference, whether you’re the one bringing the complaint or the one responding to it.

Clients trust our family law attorneys to guide them through some of the most important moments of their lives. Here’s what they say about working with Turco Legal.

Manchester Office
(603) 932-5032
900 Elm Street, Suite 802
Manchester, NH 03101

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Turco Legal donates 10% of all proceeds to Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, supporting their mission to advance civil liberties, protect due process, and ensure equal access to justice.

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When a court order isn’t being followed, delays give the other party more room to avoid accountability. If you need to enforce a family court order or respond to a contempt complaint, contact us or call our office to schedule a consultation.