Marriage of Safonov and Safonova CA4/1

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Following the couple’s dissolution, Vladimir paid Lilia $1,000 per month in spousal support. In April 2012, the family court determined Vladimir owed Lilia $21,338 in spousal support arrearages and ordered him to pay $250 per month toward those arrearages, in addition to the original ordered support payment of $1,000 per month, for a total of $1,250 per month. In June 2017, the parties and their respective counsel stipulated regarding the attorney fees arrearages Vladimir owed Lilia (the stipulation). At that time, Vladimir owed $52,596.42 for attorney fees and the parties agreed to suspend $27,596.42 of that amount, leaving a balance of $25,000 to be paid in installments per the stipulation’s terms. The stipulation provided the suspended attorney fees would “be reinstated in full forthwith if [Vladimir] fails to make a timely monthly spousal support payment and/or arrearages . . . .” The stipulation gave Vladimir a five-day grace period from the first day of each month to make the payments. In November 2022, Lilia filed her RFO to establish spousal support arrearages of $54,965.33, increase the monthly arrearage payments to $2,300 a month,…