At any time before or at the trial or pending an appeal to the circuit court, upon motion of the complainant and upon notice to the defendant, no formal notice being necessary if the defendant be present in court and informed of said motion, the judge of said court may enter such temporary orders as may seem just, providing for the support of the neglected wife or children, or both, pendente lite, and may punish violations of such order as contempt of court, as provided by law for the punishment of contempts of the court in which such case is pending.
Ala. Code § 30-4-58 (1975)