4 Things To Do If Your Ex-Spouse Violates Your Divorce Decree

Towards the end of your divorce, the court will issue something called a divorce decree. This is a legally binding document that spells out all of the conditions of your separation, including specific details about splitting your marital debts, dividing your marital property, paying child support or other child-related expenses, and splitting custody of your children. 

After your divorce decree is issued, you may hope that the worst is over. However, problems may arise if your former spouse refuses to follow the conditions of the decree. Here are a few things you should do if your spouse refuses to follow your divorce decree.

1. Recheck the Details of the Decree

A divorce decree is a comprehensive document; it's possible that you or your spouse may misinterpret the terms of the decree. Before you do anything, reread the decree to make sure that your spouse is actually violating the conditions. The decree may be unclear or you might have misunderstood the specifics. 

Make sure that you are adhering to all of the terms of the divorce degree. It will be more difficult to force your spouse to follow the decree if you aren't following it either.

2. Document the Violations

Once you're sure that your spouse is violating the decree, you should begin documenting violations when they occur. Save any evidence of the violations, like text messages, emails, and voicemails. It's important to make notes about the dates and times that the violations occur.

If there's someone around who witnesses the violation, make sure that you write down their name. They may be able to serve as a witness if you have to go back to court. 

3. Talk to Your Spouse

You should bring it to your spouse's attention that they are violating the terms of your divorce decree. Your spouse may not be clear about the specifics of the decree, or they might mistakenly think that the decree isn't important to you. In a calm manner, let them know about the violations and ask that they stick to the decree. 

Should your spouse argue that they don't agree with the terms of the decree, don't engage them. The terms of your decree are legally binding, whether your spouse agrees or not. If they continue to violate the decree, they can be found in contempt of court. 

4. Contact Your Lawyer

If your spouse continues to violate the specifics of your divorce decree, contact your lawyer to explore your options. Your lawyer can help you with deciding if its cost-effective or reasonable to take your ex to court over the violations. For more information, reach out to law firms like Maruca Law.