If spousal support was included in the terms of your divorce decree, you’d think collecting that support would be pretty easy and straightforward. Unfortunately, for numerous Washington residents, it is anything but. If you are struggling to get your ex-spouse to meet his or her alimony payment obligation, you do not have to sit back and take it. There may be things you can do about it.
Your ex may have decided to quit or refuse to make support payments for several reasons. Maybe he, she or you experienced a change in financial or personal circumstances. Maybe he or she feels the order is unfair and unnecessary. Whatever the reason, your ex does not get to make the decision that an order of support can be canceled or modified. An official request has to be made in court and receive approval before payments can be stopped or the amount changed.
If no steps to alter an existing alimony order has been made, and support is just not getting paid, you can ask the state to enforce the order. A few enforcement options the state utilizes include wage garnishment, license suspension, and tax refund withholding — among various others. If necessary, your ex may be held in contempt of court, which can have criminal consequences.
If you are a resident of Washington who is dealing with an ex-spouse who is violating the terms of your divorce decree, whether concerning alimony or anything else, you do not have to tackle the matter on your own. Legal counsel will have the ability to review the details of your case and, if appropriate, assist you in correcting the issue as swiftly as possible. To learn more about how legal counsel may be able to help you, please take a moment and visit our firm’s website.