Post-Divorce Enforcement Actions

Contra Costa and Solano County, California

Once a divorce agreement is finalized, both parties must abide by it. If one ex-spouse refuses to live up to any part of the agreement, from alimony to child support, enforcement may be necessary. A lawyer can get a series of court orders that can eventually mean jail time if they are not obeyed.

The Law Offices of Susan E. Christiansen can help anyone with an enforcement issue in Solano or Contra Costa County, California. Our attorneys help many people who live elsewhere in the United States and have family law issues in Fairfield, Benicia, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Vacaville, Vallejo, Solano, Martinez, Clayton, Lafayette, Pleasanton, Suisun City, or another city in the area.

Child Support Enforcement

Many enforcement actions involve paying back child support. Enforcement of child support involves going to a judge and getting a court order demanding payment. A child support lien can be placed on any piece of property (house, car, etc.), forcing anything gained from the sale of the property to go toward child support.

If the ex-spouse still does not pay, he or she will be found guilty for contempt of court and fined. After many court orders are ignored, the guilty party can face a prison sentence. However, punishments can vary dramatically from case to case, especially in cases of interstate child support enforcement.

Other Enforcement Issues

There are other issues that can result in enforcement actions. For instance, a divorce agreement can decree that one spouse will pay the other a certain amount of money in return for keeping the house. If the payment does not occur, an enforcement action could force the sale of the house and the division of the proceeds among the ex-spouses.

But complex issues can quickly arise. California has limited jurisdiction on property outside of the state. If the house in the above example is outside California borders, a California court can not order its sale. Instead, it can order that equivalent value in the house be attributed to both ex-spouses.

In short, enforcement issues can often involve a complex balancing act. Attorneys Susan E. Christiansen and Cristin M. Lowe have spent many years dealing with a wide range of complex family law issues. They can guide you through your issue and negotiate a resolution to any dispute.

Tell Us Your Problem

If you need help with any child support enforcement or other enforcement issue in Solano County or Contra Costa County, California, contact The Law Offices of Susan E. Christiansen. We accept all major credit cards, including Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Discover.

From law offices in Fairfield, California, our lawyers help people throughout Solano County, Contra Costa County, and the California Bay Area, including Fairfield, Benicia, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Vacaville, Vallejo, Solano, Martinez, Clayton, Lafayette, Pleasanton, Suisun City, and more. We also welcome clients from Travis Air Force Base.