When conflicts start to arise after a divorce in Florida, there is sometimes an inclination to retaliate to try to make things “even.” However, some experts warn that this can actually make things much worse, and it could even be illegal.
For example, a father who does not have custody may want to see his child on a day when he typically doesn’t have visitation rights. The mother may say no, already having plans with the child.
To get even, the father may then decide he’s not going to pay child support that month, or he may pay late, making it harder for the mother to make ends meet. She’ll then retaliate again, saying he can’t see the child even on the days when he is scheduled for visitation.
Things can continue to escalate, and the couple may eventually end up back in court, letting a judge sort it all out. This can add a lot of stress—both emotionally and financially—to the situation.
Additionally, they may have broken the legal regulations of their divorce agreement—by not paying the court-ordered child support, for example—which can carry legal ramifications. This works both ways. In the above example, the mother also interfered with the custody arrangement. There can be criminal charges resulting from both of these actions.
While the temptation to get even may be there, and you may even feel like you are justified in your decision because you’ve been wronged, it’s important to know what the court order says and to remember that the judge likely won’t care if you feel justified or not. Instead, look into all of your legal options and don’t let the situation escalate.
Source: Divorce Magazine, “Every month, my ex-husband is late with the child support. What should I do?,” Douglas Schoenberg, accessed Feb. 02, 2016