Parisi v. Parisi

Summary

The court held that the alimony buyout provision in the parties’ separation agreement was ambiguous because it did not clearly identify the nature of the payment, the acceptable form of payment, or the scope of its tax-related requirements. Because a contempt order requires a clear and unambiguous underlying order, the trial court properly denied contempt, although for the wrong reason. The court reversed in part and remanded for a factual determination of the parties’ intent and entry of an appropriate compliance order. The opinion contains no separate writings.