What Is an Order To Show Cause in Family Court?
When spouses divorce, they may be able to reach an agreement concerning property division and spousal support, as well as child support, custody, and visitation, if applicable. The agreement might then be potentially modified or, if everything in it seems fair, approved by a judge and will be subject to enforcement through the courts. Where spouses cannot reach an agreement, a court will render a decision on the terms of the agreement and enforce it.
Ideally, parents or spouses will abide by the court orders. However, conflicts can arise where one ex-spouse or parent breaches provisions in the order, for example, by failing to make spousal or child support payments or failing to respect visitation instructions. When this happens, and ex-partners cannot solve the dispute amicably, they have the option to bring a case to court through a “show cause hearing” with the objective to make the violating party comply.
A show cause hearing is scheduled in family court when one parent or spouse files a petition with the court asking for specific relief because a court order regarding family matters or domestic relations has been violated.
A show cause hearing helps a judge acquire more information from both spouses before making a decision on the dispute. The asking party should point to the specific provisions of the court order that have allegedly been violated and describe how the order was violated in detail. The opposing party will also have an opportunity to demonstrate, through either testimonial or physical evidence, how they complied with the order or they may provide a valid defense for why they have not complied.
After hearing from both parties, a judge may grant relief if circumstances so require. Relief can take many forms such as:
- Issuing an order calling for the violating party to comply.
- Modifying a visitation order.
- Transferring custody rights to the other parent.
When one of the divorcees keeps violating the order issued by a judge, they can be found in contempt of the court. In the eyes of a court, this is a rather serious act of misconduct, which is why a person might be required to serve jail time or pay a hefty fine.
A Show Cause Hearing to Enforce Child Support Orders
All 50 states and the District of Columbia maintain that parents have an obligation to support their children until they reach the so-called “age of majority,” which is usually 18 years. To ensure that this obligation is fulfilled, a court will issue a child support order which has either been agreed to by the parents or, in the absence of an agreement, determined by the court. Each parent must comply with the terms set forth by the judge in such an order.
Jurisdiction
Courts may only issue an order to show cause so long as they have jurisdiction. Therefore, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) was created so a broad range of courts can have jurisdiction and a parent cannot avoid child support payments simply by leaving the state in which the order was issued.
Under UIFSA, court will have jurisdiction over the non-custodial parent where they:
- Are given notice and served with legal papers indicating the nature of the dispute.
- Consent to the court’s jurisdiction and/or do not oppose it.
- Have lived in the state prior to the birth of a child and provided financial support during pregnancy.
- Have brought the child to live indefinitely in the state.
- A child was conceived from the act that a non-custodial parent engaged in within the state.
Enforcement
Where a parent halts either all or partial payments, the non-violating spouse will have to engage a court in the process to ensure such payments are being made. A court might:
- Issue an Order: A court order calling for all missed child support payments to be paid. An order may specify the time in which the payments should be received.
- Withhold Wages: Where the child support payment is directly withheld from the non-custodial parent’s salary
- Place a Lien: A court may place a lien on real or personal property in order to receive payment. If support is not paid, the receiving party has a right to the property.
- Withhold Federal Income Tax Deductions: Tax refunds will be withheld to cover the child support costs.
- Suspend the License: State issued licenses (e.g. driver’s or professional license) can be suspended or revoked until the parent comes into compliance.
- Impose Passport Restrictions: The non-custodial parent may not be able to renew their passport until they come into compliance.
- Find a Spouse to be in Contempt of Court: A judge will issue an order for the non-custodial parent to be subject to jail time either for a specified period or until they come into compliance with the order.
Generally, a court will start by imposing the least intrusive means and issue an order to compel payments. This is usually enough to get the non-custodial parent to comply. However, if repeated violations occur, the court will be more likely to grant orders targeting the non-custodial parent’s wages, taxes, licenses, or hold them in contempt.
A Show Cause Hearing to Enforce Custody and Visitation Orders
Judicial orders regarding parenting responsibilities, such as custody and visitation orders, are mandatory by nature and require both parents to engage or refrain from certain types of conduct with their children. Parents who fail to follow the court order are subject to the remedies of civil and criminal contempt designed to bring the violating parent into compliance and sometimes, to punish them for past violations or compensate the other parent.
Jurisdiction
Like with the child support orders, courts may only enforce custody orders if they have jurisdiction over both parents. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) was designed to enforce such orders even across state and international borders.
Under UCCJEA, courts will enforce custody agreements authorized in another state when that other state’s order is substantially similar to the requirements of the act. Parties should be given notice about the nature of the proceedings and given an opportunity to appear in court.
Enforcement
Under the UCCJEA, custody orders may be enforced in one of the following ways:
- Expedited Enforcement Proceeding: A hearing is held within 24 hours of service where the violating parent may present any viable defenses. Unless they have established a defense, the court will grant physical custody of the child to the moving party. In an emergency, this may be issued in conjunction with a warrant discussed below.
- Physical Custody Warrants: If it is likely that a child is in danger of being physically harmed or relocated outside the state, a court may issue a warrant allowing state officials to gain physical custody of a kid.
- Public Enforcement Options: Officials, usually prosecutors, are authorized to take civil action to find a child and facilitate their safe return or enforce a custody order. The prosecutor may also ask law enforcement for help and may choose to criminally prosecute a non-compliant parent.
