Contempt & Modifications

Connecticut Divorce Modifications & Contempt

The goal is that your final divorce order is sufficiently clear and comprehensive so that it covers all issues, including custody and access (visitation), support, and other financial issues, in such a way as to prevent future disputes. There are, unfortunately, times when you need help changing or enforcing a divorce order.

At the law firm of Swerdloff & Swerdloff in West Hartford, Connecticut, experienced lawyers will represent you in matters including:

• Contempt. When a person does not do what a judge has ordered him/her to do, that person can be held in contempt of a court order. To be in contempt of a court order, the party must know about the order, have the present ability to fulfill it, and willfully refuse to do so. A person may be found to be in contempt for refusing to comply with a pre-judgment or post-judgment order. The consequences of contempt of a court order can be severe. One possible result is that the court can order a party jailed to provide an incentive to comply with its order.
• Child custody and visitation (access) modifications. If the current child custody and access arrangement is no longer suitable for the parents or for the children, a party can petition the court for a change.
• Child support modifications. In cases of job loss, job promotion or demotion, or other substantial and unexpected changes to a party's earnings or income, child support payments may be modified upwards or downwards, by order of the court.
• Spousal support (alimony). If the earnings or income of the party paying or receiving spousal support change, substantially and unexpectedly, alimony payments may be increased or decreased by order of the court, depending upon the terms of the original order.
• Relocation. If one parent decides to leave the area, he or she can file a motion for modification of custody and/or access based on relocation. There are several issues a court must consider prior to ordering the relocation of children.

Our law office is conveniently located in a building with an elevator and free parking, one mile from Interstate 84, in the center of West Hartford, at 61 South Main Street, Suite 205.

If you have a question or concern about modifications and contempt proceedings, we invite you to contact our attorneys, Mark and Ileen Swerdloff, today.