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I was divorced in March 2008. The divorce was uncontested and my ex did not appeal it. I won a large judgment regarding monies owed to me, credit card amounts that were supposed to be removed, credit card minimums that were supposed to be paid, backpayments on a truck, a second mortgage that was supposed to be paid by my ex.
Since the divorce, my ex paid some money for two months and then stopped. He had possession of the truck, but there were two caveats to the awarding of that - 1) that the payments must be made on-time or I could request that the truck be brought back to me; and 2) that the truck must be refinanced in his own name by June 24, 2008 or I could request the truck be returned. When he was late with the payment in June, I requested return of the truck. He refused and then said he would pay me in a week. He paid me $60 - not even half the payment. He did not pay the truck payment in July. I requested the return of the truck. He refused and told me to "sue him." He finally returned the truck in August, 7 days after the payment was to be made with over $2000 in body damage.
I went to court for an Enforcement Order. He did not respond. I won a default judgment and he was found in contempt of court. He was to pay what he owed within 10 days. I haven't seen a penny.
We sent a demand letter and filed it with the court. He had 10 days to respond. He did not respond. I still haven't received a penny.
I am now taking him to court for Contempt of Court. We have no children. None of the money judgments awarded to me are for child support or alimony. I am paying my own bills and am stuck paying his, too. Recently, he had the gaul to try and use my health insurance for a doctor's visit. My insurance, of course, turned him down. I reported him for insurance fraud. He knew he was no longer on my insurance.
Sorry for the explanation, but here's my question: What will Contempt of Court do for me? Will the judge order him to pay? Can the judge put him in jail? My ex deliberately took a low-paying job, 74 miles one-way from his residence. However, he is living with his mother and only has a few expenses. There is no real reason why he should not be able to pay me or set up some sort of payment plan. What exactly will a victory on a Contempt of Court charge do for me? (I live in Texas which is debtor friendly. I cannot garnish his wages).
Char - the statutes you read are for when you first divorce. You can not put a garnishment action into a final order - HOWEVER - your ex is flagrantly going against that order, and subsequent ones - this opens up other avenues for the judge to get you what you are entitled to. Including garnishment...
don't worry about how you came across - I got what you meant =)