My ex-spouse was ordered to pay me an amount within 45 days. He didn’t. What do I do now?

In Florida, the appropriate method of enforcing an unpaid financial obligation depends on whether the payment constitutes alimony or child support, or arises from property division or another nonsupport debt. Unpaid support may be enforced through a properly noticed motion for civil contempt or enforcement, provided the moving party establishes the existing court order, nonpayment, and the obligor’s willful failure to comply. The court must also determine that the obligor has the present ability to pay or satisfy any purge condition before imposing coercive sanctions, including incarceration.  Available remedies may include judgments for arrears, income-deduction orders, wage garnishment, employment-related requirements, attorney’s fees, costs, and appropriate compensatory or coercive sanctions. A compensatory contempt fine must be supported by evidence of actual financial loss, and any sanction requiring compliance to avoid or end punishment must include a lawful purge provision.  A creditor may also pursue proceedings supplementary to identify and reach nonexempt assets or obligations available to satisfy an outstanding judgment. By contrast, obligations arising solely from equitable distribution, property division, or payment of third-party debts generally cannot be enforced through civil contempt but may be pursued through money judgments and other collection procedures. Accordingly, identifying the nature of the unpaid obligation is essential to selecting the appropriate enforcement remedy under Florida law.