Q: I’m a police officer paying weekly alimony of $900 based on my base, overtime and detail pay. My ex-wife has primary physical custody of our three children. Because my wife often misses her mortgage payments, I voluntarily pay her mortgage so my kids don’t end up homeless.

Recently I was injured on the job and lost overtime and detail income. And I didn’t get workers compensation for three of the weeks I was out. Although I missed a week’s alimony payment, I used up my savings to pay my ex’s mortgage.

Then my ex filed a contempt for missing that payment. After I told the judge the facts, he asked: “Were you ordered to pay the mortgage?” When I said, “No,” the judge said: “So, what do you care?” Then the case was continued for 60 days to give me time to pay the $900. I can get the money before the review date but, I’m worried my ex won’t report that to the court. I don’t want to miss another day’s pay in order to pay the money to my ex in court. Any suggestions?— M.G., Medfield

A: The divorce judgment orders you to pay your ex-wife $900 a week. Everything else you pay to or for her is a gift. Gifts don’t relieve you from paying her $900 each week. Even though your heart was in the right place, you can’t decide how your ex uses that $900. So the judge had to enforce the judgment.

To avoid a review hearing, you need to type a document with the name of the court and case at the top of the page. Underneath type: Stipulation for Dismissal of Contempt. Under that type: “I hereby acknowledge receipt of the $900 arrears from my ex-husband and agree my contempt be dismissed with prejudice and without costs.” After you both sign the document, give the $900 check to your ex.

As soon as you can, go to the court, get your file and take it to the judge’s courtroom clerk. Give the file and stipulation to the clerk. Ask that the contempt be dismissed administratively. That means you won’t miss work because you’ll not have to go to court on the return day.

Also tell your ex you’ll never again pay anything other than the court-ordered money. Then it will be her problem if her mortgage is foreclosed. If that happens, consider filing a complaint for modification seeking primary physical custody of your children. If granted, your alimony could go down and your ex will be ordered to pay you child support.

Gerald L. Nissenbaum has been a trial lawyer in Boston since 1967 and concentrates his practice on family law. Any legal advice in this column is general in nature, and does not establish a lawyer-client relationship. Send questions to dearjerry@bostonherald.com.