The opinion
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
FIFTH DISTRICT
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO
FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED
CLINT STEVEN BROWN,
Appellant,
v. Case No. 5D16-737
ANGELA BROWN,
Appellee.
________________________________/
Opinion filed February 24, 2017
Appeal from the Circuit Court
for Seminole County,
Melanie Chase, Judge.
Jamie Billotte Moses, of Holland & Knight
LLP, Orlando, for Appellant.
Angela Brown, Lake Mary, pro se.
WALLIS, J.
Clint Steven Brown ("Former Husband") appeals the trial court's order of indirect
civil contempt for failure to pay alimony to Angela Sue Brown ("Former Wife"). Florida
Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.615(d)(1) provides:
An order finding the alleged contemnor to be in contempt shall
contain a finding that a prior order of support was entered, that
the alleged contemnor has failed to pay part or all of the
support ordered, that the alleged contemnor had the present
ability to pay support, and that the alleged contemnor willfully
failed to comply with the prior court order. The order shall
contain a recital of the facts on which these findings are
based.
(emphasis added). Here, despite including general findings regarding Former Husband's
finances, the trial court failed to expressly find that he had the present ability to pay
support. The absence of such a finding warrants reversal "for the limited purpose of
allowing the trial court to enter an order in compliance with rule 12.615(d)(1)." Trisotto v.
Trisotto, 966 So. 2d 986, 988 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007); accord Holtz v. Holtz, 95 So. 3d 457,
458 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012). Thus, we reverse and remand for entry of a compliant order.
REVERSED and REMANDED with Instructions.
SAWAYA and BERGER, JJ., concur.
2