What do you do when your ex-spouse violates your divorce decree? If you want to have a judge enforce your divorce decree you can file an Order to Show Cause re Contempt. You will need to file an Order to Show Cause, A Motion for an Order to Show Cause and an Affidavit in Support of an Order to Show Cause. An Order to Show Cause requires personal service. This means that you have to have someone else serve the opposing party. Usually people use constables, law enforcement officers or a private service company.

In your Motion for an Order to Show Cause it is important to list all the ways that the other party has violated your divorce decree and what you want to happen. Usually, you ask the other party to stop doing what is wrong or start doing what they are supposed to. An Order to Show Cause requires a hearing. You will get the hearing date when you file your papers. Depending on how busy the courts are you might have to wait for a month or two before you can have the hearing.