Enforcement
Family Law Enforcement
In Florida
A court order is supposed to mean something.
If your former spouse or co-parent is not following a divorce or family law order, you may feel frustrated, stuck, or unsure what you’re allowed to do next. Maybe child support is not being paid. Maybe parenting time is being denied. Maybe property has not been transferred, attorney’s fees have not been paid, or someone is ignoring the terms of your final judgment.
You do not have to handle that alone.
At Leap Frog Divorce, we help clients enforce family law court orders with clarity, strategy, and compassion. Whether the issue involves custody, child support, alimony, property division, attorney’s fees, or another post-judgment obligation, our enforcement attorneys can help you understand your options and take the next step.
A Smarter Way Through Divorce
Not every case needs to become a fight. We help you explore resolution where possible—and prepare you when it’s not.
How It Works
How Florida Family Law Enforcement Works
When someone violates a court order, the right legal response depends on what the order says, what the other person failed to do, and what remedy is available under Florida law.
The existing enforcement article explains that enforcement issues can arise across family law matters, including custody, property division, spousal support, child support, attorney’s fees, and post-divorce obligations.
In many enforcement cases, the court looks at three key questions:
01.
Is There A Clear Court Order?
Before a court can enforce an order, the order must be clear enough for the person to know exactly what they were required to do—or not do.
This matters because enforcement is not just about proving someone behaved badly. It is about showing that a specific court order existed and that the other person did not comply with it.
02.
Did The Other Person Fail To Comply?
The next question is whether the other person violated the order.
That may include refusing to pay support, denying parenting time, failing to transfer property, failing to refinance or sell a home, failing to execute a deed, failing to remove someone from a title, or failing to pay court-ordered attorney’s fees.
03.
What Remedy Is Available?
Not every enforcement problem is handled the same way.
Contempt may be available in some situations, especially when the issue involves support. But contempt is generally not available when the issue is payment of money between former spouses unless that payment is support-related.
For example, failure to pay court-ordered spousal support may support contempt. Failure to pay money from the sale of property may require a different enforcement remedy.
How Leap Frog Divorce Can Help
When someone refuses to follow a court order, it can feel personal. It can also affect your finances, your parenting schedule, your child’s stability, and your ability to move forward.
At Leap Frog Divorce, we help you identify what the order requires, what evidence supports your position, and what legal options may be available.
We can help with enforcement issues involving:
- Parenting plans and time-sharing
- Visitation schedules
- Child support
- Alimony or spousal support
- Property division
- Sale or refinance of a home
- Transfer of deeds, titles, or personal property
- Court-ordered attorney’s fees
- Post-divorce financial obligations
- Out-of-state enforcement issues
- Violations of mediation agreements after court approval
Our goal is not to create unnecessary conflict. Our goal is to help you enforce what the court has already ordered and protect your next step forward.
What Can Be Enforced?
Family law enforcement can involve many different types of court orders. The right approach depends on the issue.
Child Support Enforcement
Child support enforcement often involves a parent failing to pay the full amount, failing to pay on time, or not paying at all.
Parenting Plan & Custody Enforcement
Custody issues may include one parent interfering with the other parent’s visitation, failing to follow the time-sharing schedule, withholding a child, refusing to return a child, moving a child’s school without consent, or failing to support the child’s relationship with the other parent.
Property Division Enforcement
Property division issues may include failing to pay a debt, failing to sign a deed, refusing to cooperate with the sale or refinance of a home, failing to turn over personal property, or failing to remove a former spouse from a vehicle title.
Alimony Enforcement
Alimony problems often involve someone not paying on time, not paying the full amount, or not paying at all.
Attorney’s Fee Enforcement
Sometimes one spouse is ordered or agrees to pay the other spouse’s attorney’s fees. If that payment is not made, enforcement may be available.
Understanding Contempt
Contempt generally means refusing to obey a legal order, mandate, or decree from a judge. Contempt can be direct or indirect, civil or criminal. Most family law contempt matters involve indirect civil contempt, meaning the alleged violation happened outside the courtroom and the goal is to compel compliance rather than punish.
Our Team
Meet Your Leap Frog Divorce Team
A.J. Grossman
Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator
A.J. Grossman
Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator
Kiki Grossman
Lead Conflict Resolution Specialist • Attorney at Law
Kiki Grossman
Lead Conflict Resolution Specialist • Attorney at Law
Banda Nadeau
Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator
Banda Nadeau
Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator
April Phillips
Litigation & Trial Paralegal • Certified Guardian Ad Litem
April Phillips
Litigation & Trial Paralegal • Certified Guardian Ad Litem
Brett Castro
FRP, Discovery Specialist
Brett Castro
FRP, Discovery Specialist
Yarissa Castillo
Paralegal
Yarissa Castillo
Paralegal
Brianna Hendricks
Legal Assistant
Brianna Hendricks
Legal Assistant
Let’s Start Moving Forward
Take Action When Someone Is Not Following The Court Order
You worked hard to get a court order. You should not have to start from scratch when someone refuses to follow it.
Whether your issue involves missed support payments, denied parenting time, ignored property obligations, unpaid attorney’s fees, or another post-divorce problem, Leap Frog Divorce can help you understand what enforcement path makes sense.
Divorce-related conflict can bring up anger, fear, anxiety, and uncertainty about your future. You deserve guidance from a team that understands both the legal and emotional sides of the process.
If someone is not doing what they were ordered to do, we’re ready to help you take your next step.
