Being ordered to pay alimony to your former spouse is never an easy situation. You likely just want to be done with dealing with them since alimony is awarded when a couple gets divorced. It’s important that you make the payments by their due date and do not fall behind on them or else you could risk your freedom and wind up being sent to a collection agency.
Refusing to pay alimony that has been ordered by the court can lead to serious problems for you and your freedom. There’s a possibility that you could be held in civil contempt of court. Other times, you could be facing criminal contempt of court. It is possible to face fines and even be jailed if you fail to face the orders issued by the judge.
The most serious penalties regarding failure to pay alimony are reserved for people ordered to pay who can afford to pay but who refuse to pay. The fact that you can afford to make the payments and still do not can lead to hefty fines and lengthy jail sentences.
Should you have serious trouble making payments, it’s best to contact your former spouse and the court to explain the situation. Let the court know if you lost your job, were demoted, are suffering from an illness or disease or are facing any other type of hardship.
When you fall behind on alimony payments, it’s best to notify the court that issued the payment order as soon as possible. You don’t want to receive a notice from the court because you failed to notify them of missed payments. Let the court know your situation, and it might be able to work with you for a solution.
