When The Other Person Disobeys A Court Order

A complaint for contempt is filed in the Massachusetts probate and family courts when a party is willfully disobeying a clear and unequivocal order of the court. Let the knowledgeable counsel at Concord firm of pursue enforcing an order put in place by the law.

A complaint for contempt can be also be used to seek enforcement of a temporary order issued during the pendency of an open case or a final order of the court. This type of complaint carries the possibility of an award of attorney’s fees to the prevailing party and should not be done without first consulting an attorney to make sure your circumstances fit the criteria for an award of contempt.

Filing A Complaint For Contempt

When filing a complaint for contempt you have the option of filing a civil complaint for contempt or a criminal complaint for contempt.

• Civil Contempt — The vast majority of contempt actions are civil in nature and are meant to force the party not in compliance with a court order to obey the terms of the order.
• Criminal Contempt — This type of contempt is used less frequently and is typically used when a party regularly fails to comply with a court order of support for a spouse or child even though the party had the ability to make the support payments. Requesting that the other party be held in criminal contempt is a decision that can have unforeseen consequences.

Consult With A Lawyer Experienced In Contempt Actions

Years of experience in Massachusetts divorce cases make us highly qualified to deal with your ex not obeying a court order. Let us fight to protect your rights. Contact us now at or email us a convenient email inquiry.