Go to the clerk's office at the court that made the orders. Give the clerk your completed Motion for Contempt and Appearance forms. The clerk will write a hearing date and time on the motion, sign it, and give it back to you. The hearing date is when you and the other person must go to court.
A custodial parent may file a petition with their local child support agency. That petition will then be forwarded to the New York City Law Department office in the county where the non-custodial parent resides. This matter will then be litigated in the New York City Family Court located in the same borough.
You don't need an attorney to file a Motion for Contempt, but it is a good idea to have one. If you decide to represent yourself, you can go to the courthouse that made the order and ask for help at the Court Service Center.
A contempt motion is a motion filed in family court when the other parent doesn't obey a court order. The court order is most often based upon the agreement of the parties but sometimes is based upon solely a prior order entered by the judge.
If you are convicted of any degree of this crime, your outlook is bleak in terms of sentencing. Second Degree is an “A” misdemeanor while a First Degree conviction is an “E” felony. These crimes are punishable with sentences up to one year in jail and four years in state prison respectively.
In family law cases, the contempt proceeding must be initiated by filing and serving Judicial Council Form FL-410 (Order to Show Cause and Affidavit for Contempt), along with an Affidavit of Facts Constituting Contempt (Form FL-411 or FL-412).
California doesn't immediately issue a warrant for missed child support. It usually takes a significant lapse before this happens. When you miss several payments, accumulate large arrears, and fail to take steps to resolve the debt, a warrant might become likely.
Enforcing Child Support in Court. If the agency collection efforts haven't worked, you might need to go to court to enforce your child support order. There are different ways to do this in California, including contempt proceedings, seeking civil penalties or additional security deposits, and criminal prosecution.
In family law cases, the contempt proceeding must be initiated by filing and serving Judicial Council Form FL-410 (Order to Show Cause and Affidavit for Contempt), along with an Affidavit of Facts Constituting Contempt (Form FL-411 or FL-412).