Divorces are intensely personal matters, and in many cases, the bitterness lingers long past the date when the marriage is legally terminated. However, regardless of what led to the breakup or what type of anger exists between the parties, it’s important to remember that a divorce order carries the same weight as any other court directive. Violating a court order to get back at one’s ex could lead to severe consequences, even jail time.
A decision issued by the Supreme Court in New York County exemplifies the sanctions that can be levied in a family law matter. The holding in J.N. v. T.N. arose out of a divorce that was finalized in January 2023. This was a hotly contested case, which included trials on both custody and financial issues. Both trials resulted in findings that the husband, T.N., had abused his wife during the course of the marriage.
Since the entry of the divorce judgment, J.N. alleged that her ex-husband’s actions constituted numerous violations of their court orders governing their relationship. She claimed that one transgression occurred when her former spouse released a report concerning her employment at the financial firm Goldman Sachs to a reporter and others. This breached a confidentiality order that bound the parties, putting her professional reputation at risk.
Furthermore, T.N. refused to communicate with his ex-wife about family matters through Our Family Wizard, the online platform designed to help divorced parents maintain clear and documented communication. This refusal contravened their custody order and exacerbated ongoing family tensions related to their troubled child. When ordered to help pay for third-party experts to address the situation, T.N. refused to do so.
The ex-husband’s repeated violations of three different divorce-related orders led the court to hold him in criminal contempt. In this case, the judge found that the ex-husband’s actions were not just accidental or negligent but willful and deliberate. As a result, he was charged with criminal contempt stemming from violations of three separate orders. When he failed to show for the proceeding, he was sentenced to 150 days in jail, highlighting the court’s commitment to enforcing compliance in family law cases.
Going through a complex divorce can be incredibly frustrating, but the best advice is to retain an attorney with substantial experience handling these cases rather than taking matters into your own hands by ignoring court orders. If you believe that a decision against you was improper, a seasoned New York family law attorney can explain about options such as appeals and modification requests.
As the Long Island divorce leader, Bryan L. Salamone & Associates, P.C. has successfully represented clients throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties in high-conflict matrimonial litigation and proceedings related to compliance with Family Court orders. To discuss your situation, please call 631-388-6009 or contact us online.