The lawyers of Stearns-Montgomery & Proctor represent clients in the Atlanta metro area who wish to enforce alimony, visitation and child support orders. We also defend people who are subject to contempt actions.

If you have fallen behind on your child support payments or are seeking enforcement of any family court order, contact an experienced family law attorney at Stearns-Montgomery & Proctor for assistance. Contact us online to set up a confidential consultation with a caring family law attorney. Or, call our offices at (770) 426-1148.

What Can a Contempt Action Accomplish?

Depending on the situation, a contempt action may result in consequences ranging from loss of a driver's license to, in extreme cases, changes in custody (if filed simultaneously with a modification action).

In our practice, we represent many parents in contempt of court actions related to alimony or child support enforcement, denial of visitation, and other issues. The following are some examples of the consequences:

• If a parent has not been paying child support, a contempt action could result in that parent having wages garnished or even being jailed until past due payments are made.
• If a spouse refuses to turn over an asset such as stock or other property subject to a property division order, he or she can be jailed until the asset is turned over.
• If a custodial parent refuses to provide visitation to the noncustodial parent, he or she can be found in contempt of the child custody order. Refusal to provide visitation can also be used as possible grounds for a modification in child custody.
• If a noncustodial parent refuses to return a child following a scheduled visit, he or she can be found in contempt.
• If a spouse refuses to pay temporary or permanent alimony as ordered by the court, he or she can be found in contempt.

There are things that you do to prevent these consequences. For example, a parent who falls significantly behind on child support payments may have been laid off. In such a case, an experienced lawyer can help you obtain a modification to the child support order, which will stop the overdue payments from building up. Then, we can help you negotiate a payment plan, which may proactively resolve the situation without more dire consequences.

Speak With a Caring Attorney

If you need to enforce a family court order or you need to defend a contempt action, speak with a caring family law attorney. Please call Stearns-Montgomery & Proctor today at (770) 426-1148 or fill out our simple contact form to set up an appointment or to get additional information. Our office hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with evening appointments available by request. We accept all major credit cards.

With two strategically located offices in Atlanta and Marietta, we act as advocates for families throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area, including clients in Atlanta, Marietta, Alpharetta, Buckhead, Canton, Dallas, Decatur, Douglasville, Duluth, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Kennesaw, Lawrenceville, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs and Smyrna.