ENFORCEMENT AND CONTEMPT ESSENTIALS
HON. ROY L. MOORE
Presiding Judge
245th District Court
201 Caroline, Floor 15
Houston, Texas 77002
HON. DIANE M. GUARIGLIA
Associate Judge
245th District Court
201 Caroline, Floor 15
Houston, Texas 77002
State Bar of Texas
ADVANCED FAMILY LAW DRAFTING
December 5-6, 2013
Dallas
CHAPTER 14
Enforcement and Contempt Essentials
Chapter 14
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 1
II.
TYPES OF CONTEMPT ........................................................................................................................................ 1
A, Direct Contempt .............................................................................................................................................. 1
B. Constructive Contempt .................................................................................................................................... 1
III. PLEADING A PROPER CONTEMPT .................................................................................................................. 1
IV. HEARINGS ............................................................................................................................................................. 2
V. PUNISHMENT AND ORDERS OF CONTEMPT/COMMITMENT ................................................................... 3
VI. ORDERS SOUGHT TO BE ENFORCED ............................................................................................................. 3
A. Oral vs. Written Orders ................................................................................................................................... 3
B. Seeking Contempt of Temporary Order .......................................................................................................... 4
C. Medical Reimbursement.................................................................................................................................. 4
D. Property ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
E. Possession and Access..................................................................................................................................... 4
VII. APPEAL .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
APPENDIX OF FORMS:
EXHIBIT “A”
FORM MOTIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY CONTEMPT OF CHILD
SUPPORT ORDER (bad and good examples)
EXHIBIT “B”
FORM MOTIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY CONTEMPT OF PROPERTY
DIVISION (bad and good examples)
EXHIBIT “C”
FORM MOTIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY CONTEMPT OF A POSSESSION
ORDER (bad and good examples)
EXHIBIT “D”
FORM MOTIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY CONTEMPT OF PERMANENT
INJUNCTIONS (bad and good examples)
EXHIBIT “E”
COMMITMENT ORDER CHECKLIST (long form)
EXHIBIT “F”
COMMITMENT ORDER CHECKLIST (short form)
EXHIBIT “G”
FORM COMMITMENT ORDER (CHILD SUPPORT)
EXHIBIT “H”
FORM COMMITMENT ORDER (POSSESSION & ACCESS)
EXHIBIT “I”
FORM REVOCATION AND COMMITMENT ORDER
EXHIBIT “J”
WEEKEND JAIL OR ALTERNATE OFF-WORK HOUR JAIL LANGUAGE
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Enforcement and Contempt Essentials
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INDEX OF CITATIONS
CASES:
In re Aslam, 348 S.W.3d 299
(Tex. App. -- Fort Worth 2011, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Barnes, 581 S.W.2d 812
(Tex. Civ. App. -- Fort Worth 1979, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Binse, 932 S.W.2d 619
(Tex. App. -- Houston [14th Dist.] 1996, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Calhoun, 127 Tex. 54, 91 S.W.2d 1047 (1936)
Ex Parte Cardwell, 416 S.W.2d 382 (Tex. 1967)
Ex Parte Choate, 582 S.W.2d 625
(Tex. Civ. App. -- Beaumont 1979, orig. proceeding)
See Ex Parte Colley, 621 S.W.2d 649
(Tex. Civ. App. -- Austin 1981, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Duncan, 796 S.W.2d 562
(Tex. App. -- Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Edgerly, 441 S.W.2d 514 (Tex. 1969)
Ex Parte Fernandez, 645 S.W.2d 636
(Tex. App. -- El Paso 1983, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Harris, 581 S.W.2d 545
(Tex. Civ. App. -- Fort Worth 1979, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Herring, 438 S.W.2d 801 (Tex. 1969)
Ex Parte Higginbotham, 768 S.W.2d 4
(Tex. App. -- Fort Worth 1989, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Jackman, 663 S.W.2d 520
(Tex. App. -- Dallas 1983, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Johns, 807 S.W.2d 768
(Tex. App. -- Dallas 1991, orig. proceeding)
In re L.L., 341 S.W.3d 22
(Tex. App. -- San Antonio 2010, no pet.).
Ex Parte Linder, 783 S.W.2d 754
(Tex. App. -- Dallas 1990, orig. proceeding)
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Ex Parte McManus, 589 S.W.2d 790
(Tex. Civ. App. – Dallas 1979, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Mitchell, 783 S.W.2d 703
(Tex. App. -- El Paso 1989, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Morgan, 886 S.W.2d 829
(Tex. App. -- Amarillo 1994, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Padron, 565 S.W.2d 921 (Tex. 1978)
Ex Parte Rosser, 899 S.W.2d 382
(Tex. App. -- Houston [14th Dist.] 1995, orig. proceeding)
Ex Parte Sealy, 870 S.W.2d 663
(Tex. App. -- Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, orig. proceeding)
Shillitani v. United States, 384 U.S. 364, 86 S.Ct. 1531 (1966)
Ex Parte Slavin, 412 S.W.2d 43 (Tex. 1967)
Ex Parte Waldrep, 932 S.W.2d 739
(Tex. App. -- Waco 1996, orig. proceeding)
Whitt v. Whitt, 684 S.W.2d 731
(Tex. App. -- Houston [14th Dist.] 1984, no writ)
Ex Parte Wilson, 797 S.W.2d 6 (Tex. 1990)
STATUTES:
Texas Constitution, Article I, Section 18
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