What happens if my ex doesn't pay alimony in Connecticut?

What Connecticut law gives you when alimony is not paid

An alimony order is part of the divorce judgment, so it carries the force of a court order under C.G.S. § 46b-82. If the paying spouse does not comply, the court can address that noncompliance through contempt under C.G.S. § 46b-87. Connecticut Practice Book § 25-27 also requires a motion for contempt to identify the exact order, the acts that violated it, any arrears claimed, and the relief requested. In practical terms, that means your enforcement request should be precise: identify the paragraph in the judgment, the dates payments were missed, and the total amount still owed as of a stated cutoff date.

What to do after the payments stop

Start by pulling together the signed judgment, any later modification orders, and a clean payment history showing what was due and what was actually paid. If the missed payments reflect a real long-term change, the paying spouse should ask for a modification under C.G.S. § 46b-86; they do not get to change the order on their own. The usual enforcement path is a motion for contempt, service on the other party, and a hearing where the judge decides whether the violation was willful. Linda Douglas, Chief Legal Officer at Untangle, recommends treating the arrearage schedule as evidence, not rough notes, because judges and opposing counsel will test your numbers line by line.

What the court can order if contempt is found

When the court finds contempt, it can order payment of the arrearage, set a cure schedule, and award reasonable attorney's fees and service costs under C.G.S. § 46b-87. The exact remedy depends on the facts, including the size of the arrearage and whether the judge believes the nonpayment was willful rather than impossible. If incarceration is a possible remedy, Connecticut Practice Book § 25-63 requires the contemnor to be advised of the right to counsel and, if indigent, appointed counsel. That does not make contempt weak; it means the process stays enforceable because the court follows a clear procedure before using its strongest sanctions.

Practical points before you file

Do not assume text messages, side promises, or partial payments changed the order unless the court formally modified it. Also, do not retaliate in unrelated areas, such as refusing parenting time, because support and parenting orders are enforced separately. Linda Douglas, Chief Legal Officer at Untangle, recommends filing while the payment history is still easy to prove and before the arrearage record becomes harder to reconstruct from memory. Acting early also helps you separate two different questions: whether you need enforcement now, and whether someone should separately file a motion to modify for future payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my ex reduce alimony on their own because their income changed?

No. A claimed income drop may support a motion to modify under C.G.S. § 46b-86, but it does not let the paying spouse rewrite the order alone. Until the court changes the judgment, the existing payment terms remain in effect and missed installments can still be treated as arrears.

Can the court make my ex pay my lawyer for the enforcement motion?

Often, yes. If the court finds contempt, C.G.S. § 46b-87 allows the judge to award reasonable attorney's fees and service costs. That does not happen automatically in every case, but fee shifting is a standard remedy when a party had to return to court because the other side ignored an order.

What if my ex says they really cannot afford the payments anymore?

That defense may matter, but it does not erase the order by itself. The court will still look at whether the nonpayment was willful, what proof exists of inability to pay, and whether a modification motion should have been filed earlier under C.G.S. § 46b-86. Good records on both sides usually decide how that argument lands.