Question:
My husband shares legal and physical custody of his two minor children with his ex. Recently we had to submit a complaint and get a directed court order to allow us to take the children on vacation last month (The ex had agreed originally and then changed her mind after we bought all the tickets so we got a court order saying we could still go). In the complaint filed, it stated that my husband would pick up the children at a specific location (her house) at a specific time. In the court order summary it didn't specifically list the location, just the time and date for the pickup. The ex decided at the last minute that she did not want my husband to pick the children up at her house so she made unilateral alternate plans. When my husband showed up at her house at the designated time, she was not there. He called her and she said she would not bring the children there. He called the cops and they ended up having to exchange at the police barracks. Is she in contempt of the court order for this? She does this kind of thing constantly and we're tired of it.
Answer:
Allow me to preface my answer to your question with the disclaimer that I am not licensed to practice law in the state of Vermont. Because the Court Order was not specific as to the location, I do not think the court would find her in contempt. However, be sure to keep track of all of these circumstances so if you need to go back on a contempt on other issues you certainly include this incident.
