Baltimore, MD Family Law Attorneys for Contempt Proceedings

Lawyers Helping Clients Enforce Family Court Orders in Baltimore, Maryland

People may be familiar with the idea of "being held in contempt" in a courtroom, since this is something that is often seen in television dramas where someone disobeys a judge. However, a person may also be held in contempt for other reasons. Civil contempt refers to when people fail to adhere to the terms of a court order outside of the courtroom. This may become an issue when a person has failed to follow the orders put in place by a family court.

At Silverman Thompson, our lawyers provide representation in multiple types of family law cases, and we can help clients determine the best ways to proceed when addressing issues related to civil contempt. If a person has not met their legal requirements, we can work with the opposing party to address this issue. If a person needs to respond to a civil contempt charge, we can help them take steps to address the claims made against them and resolve disputes while avoiding penalties.

Issues Addressed in Civil Contempt Cases

There are many reasons why civil contempt charges may apply in a family law case. For example, a failure to pay court-ordered child support or alimony can result in a finding of contempt. In family law matters, a petition for contempt can be a useful mechanism to enforce the terms of a judgment of absolute divorce, a child custody order, a child support order, or another type of court order.

Civil contempt proceedings, however, are not designed to punish noncompliance. Instead, the goal of civil contempt is to compel present or future compliance with a court order. That is, a civil contempt case may involve actions that will require a person to follow the terms of a court order and ensure that they maintain compliance with the order going forward.

That said, a person who is found in contempt can be sanctioned by the court. Sanctions can take many different forms, including imprisonment in some circumstances. Fines or other monetary penalties may be imposed in some cases.

A person who is held in contempt could face the suspension of their driver's license or a professional license. If a person is accused of failing to pay support as ordered, they will likely be required to make all payments that are owed, along with interest. If a person allegedly violated the terms of a child custody order, modifications may be made that could restrict their access to their children or require their parenting time to be supervised.

The sanctions a person may face can be serious. While it may be possible to have contempt charges "purged" from a person's record, these issues can still have very real consequences. This is why it is important to contact an experienced attorney if a petition for contempt is filed against you. The team at Silverman Thompson can provide representation during contempt proceedings, helping a person respond to the charges and make sure they meet their legal obligations.

Additionally, if you believe the other party is not following the terms of a court order, an experienced attorney can help you determine whether to file a petition for contempt. Our lawyers will guide you through the process, working to ensure that the other party will meet their requirements under a family law court order. If necessary, we can request modifications to child custody orders or other orders to address the actions taken by the other party.

Contact Our Baltimore Civil Contempt Lawyers

With our experience litigating family law cases, the team at Silverman Thompson can help ensure that issues related to contempt will be handled correctly. We can work with clients to enforce court orders, or we can help respond to alleged violations, working to resolve disputes and protect our clients' rights. Contact our Baltimore, MD family law contempt proceedings attorneys at 410-385-2225 to set up a consultation.