In the practice of family law the contempt citation is used to enforce the decree. If you were involved in
a divorce or paternity case, at the end of your case the court entered a decree. In the decree there is a
list of orders entered by the court. Those orders are to be followed by the parties.
When a party fails to follow the courts order they are in contempt of the court’s order. The way that you
can enforce the court’s order is by filing a contempt citation against the guilty party.
So, in other words, if you have a court order that says you are to receive $500 a month in child support
and they failed to pay, you can file a contempt citation. If you have a court order that says that your ex-
spouse is going to pay $500 a month in alimony and they failed to pay you can file a contempt citation.
This principal also would apply to visitation, property, payment of bills, sale of real property, or any
other order entered by the court.
If you have a decree of divorce or paternity and the other party is not following the orders of the court
your option for enforcement is a contempt citation. If you are considering filing a contempt citation,
please give us a call at 405-232-2444. We can help.
By Attorney John A. Alberts, Bedlam Law
