Supreme Court of Texas

A court order to pay spousal support is unenforceable by contempt if the order merely restates a private debt rather than a legal duty imposed by Texas law. A petition for writ of habeas corpus is granted pursuant to a claim that petitioner could not be imprisoned for nonpayment of a contractual alimony obligation incorporated into his divorce decree.

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/20/2007
• Published 04/20/2007

Judges

• PER CURIAM.

Court

• Supreme Court of Texas

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Craig A. Jackson, Southlake, Georganna L. Simpson, Law Offices of Georganna L. Simpson, Dallas, for relator., Jonathan Jay Bates, Pezzulli Kinser, L.L.P., Dallas, for real party in interest., Sheriff Lupe Valdez, Sheriff of Dallas County, Dallas, pro se.