Alimony Contempt Lawyer Virginia Beach — What Are Your Options for Enforcement or Defense?
If your former spouse has stopped paying court-ordered spousal support in Virginia Beach, an Alimony Contempt Lawyer Virginia Beach from Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. can help. Under Va. Code § 20-107.1, the court can hold a non-paying spouse in contempt, potentially skilled to fines or jail time. We have 8 documented results in Virginia Beach. Call (888) 437-7747.
Last verified: April 2026 | Virginia Beach General District Court | Va. Code § 20-107.1 (official Virginia General Assembly)
Spousal support (alimony) in Virginia is governed by Va. Code § 20-107.1. The court considers 13 factors to determine support amount and duration. When a paying spouse willfully fails to make court-ordered payments, the receiving spouse can file a motion for contempt. Contempt of court for unpaid alimony is a serious matter — the court can impose sanctions including wage garnishment, property liens, and even incarceration. Mr. Sris, founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. (founded 1997), personally amended Virginia’s equitable distribution statute (Va. Code § 20-107.3) and brings that depth of family law experience to alimony contempt cases in Virginia Beach.
- Va. Code § 20-107.1 (Spousal Support) — Official Virginia General Assembly
- Virginia Beach General District Court — Official Court Website
- Step 1: Document the Violation. Gather bank statements, payment records, and any communication showing missed or partial spousal support payments. Keep a timeline of when payments were due and when they stopped.
- Step 2: File a Motion for Contempt. Your attorney files a motion with the Virginia Beach General District Court (2425 Nimmo Parkway, Bldg 10B) detailing the specific violations and requesting the court to hold the non-paying spouse in contempt.
- Step 3: Serve the Motion. The non-paying spouse must be personally served with the motion and a show-cause order. The sheriff’s office or a private process server can handle this.
- Step 4: Attend the Hearing. Both parties appear before the judge. You must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the paying spouse willfully violated the court order. The paying spouse can present defenses such as inability to pay or changed circumstances.
- Step 5: Court Remedies. If the court finds contempt, it can order wage garnishment, property liens, payment plans, or in extreme cases, jail time. The court may also award attorney’s fees to the prevailing party.
- Step 6: Enforcement of Judgment. If the court orders a payment plan or lump sum, your attorney can help enforce that judgment through additional collection methods if payments stop again.
In Virginia Beach, willful failure to pay court-ordered spousal support can result in contempt findings with serious consequences.
| Offense | Classification | Incarceration | Fine | License Impact | Additional Consequences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willful failure to pay spousal support (first offense) | Civil contempt | Up to 12 months (purgeable by payment) | Up to $2,500 | None directly | Wage garnishment; property liens; attorney’s fees awarded to the other party |
| Willful failure to pay spousal support (subsequent offenses) | Civil contempt | Up to 12 months per violation | Up to $5,000 | None directly | Possible criminal contempt referral; increased attorney’s fees; loss of visitation rights in some cases |
Results may vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. was founded in 1997 by former prosecutor Mr. Sris. The firm has over 120 years of combined legal experience and has documented 4,739+ case results firm-wide across VA, MD, NJ, NY, and DC with a 93%+ favorable outcome rate. Mr. Sris personally amended Va. Code § 20-107.3 (equitable distribution statute), demonstrating the firm’s deep involvement in Virginia family law. Our tagline: “Advocacy Without Borders.”
Mr. Sris (Owner & CEO, Managing Attorney) provides secondary oversight on complex alimony contempt cases. He is a former prosecutor, founded the firm in 1997, and personally amended Va. Code § 20-107.3. He is admitted to practice in VA, MD, DC, NJ, and NY.
In Virginia Beach, Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. has 8 total documented case results across all practice areas with a 100% favorable outcome rate. Firm-wide, we have 4,739+ documented case results with a 93%+ favorable outcome rate across VA, MD, NJ, NY, and DC.
Results may vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Our Richmond Location serves clients at Virginia Beach courts. Our location is accessible via I-64 and I-264, approximately 90 minutes from the Virginia Beach General District Court at 2425 Nimmo Parkway.
Alimony contempt lawyer near Virginia Beach — we serve Virginia Beach, Sandbridge, and Oceana.
24/7 phone consultations — Toll-Free: (888) 437-7747 | Local: (804)201-9009
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Can I go to jail for not paying alimony in Virginia Beach?
Yes. Virginia courts can hold you in civil contempt for willful failure to pay court-ordered spousal support. Incarceration is possible but is typically a last resort after other remedies like wage garnishment have failed. The court must find you had the ability to pay but chose not to.
How do I enforce an alimony order in Virginia Beach?
File a motion for contempt with the Virginia Beach General District Court. Your attorney will present evidence of missed payments and the court can order wage garnishment, property liens, or other enforcement measures. The process typically takes 30-45 days from filing to hearing.
What is the difference between civil and criminal contempt for unpaid alimony?
Civil contempt is the most common remedy for unpaid alimony. The court holds you in contempt but allows you to “purge” the contempt by paying what you owe. Criminal contempt is rare and involves a separate prosecution for willfully defying a court order, carrying potential jail time without a purge option.
How long does an alimony contempt case take in Virginia Beach?
It depends. A clear motion for contempt with clear evidence of non-payment can be resolved in 30-60 days. If the paying spouse contests the motion or claims inability to pay, the case may take 3-6 months. Complex cases involving business income or hidden assets can take longer.
Can alimony be modified if I lose my job?
Yes. If you experience a substantial change in circumstances, such as job loss or reduced income, you can file a motion to modify spousal support. This is different from a contempt proceeding. You should file for modification before stopping payments to avoid being held in contempt.
- Virginia Family Law Lawyer (Hub page)
- Henrico County Family Law Lawyer
- Chesterfield County Family Law Lawyer
- Virginia Beach Criminal Defense Lawyer
- Virginia Beach DUI Lawyer
- Samantha Powers — Family Law Attorney Profile
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Last verified: April 2026. Information updated as of April 2026. Laws change — contact Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 for current guidance.