what happens if i am not represented by a lawyer in child support court

by Elyssa Smith 3 min read

If you are not in your courtroom at the time your case is called it can be dismissed or move forward without you. 2) Present yourself as a business person at your hearing. Although you are not a lawyer, you are representing yourself and you want to look and act the part.

The biggest risk in representing yourself without a lawyer is that you will lose your case! This might happen if: You cannot meet all the technical requirements to prove your case. You do not follow all the required court procedures.

Full Answer

What happens if I cannot afford a lawyer for child support?

You were put in jail because you did not pay child support when you were ordered to. If the local child support agency is involved in your case and they did not stop your child support payments while you were in jail or institutionalized, you can ask them (without going to court) to give you credit for the time you were in jail or institutionalized.

What happens if a noncustodial parent refuses to pay child support?

If a judge believes you've proven your case, he or she will hold the noncustodial parent in contempt and issue an order stating how and when the parent should pay overdue support. The judge may also include other penalties for the delinquent parent in the order, such as fines or even jail time. Court Orders to Collect Child Support

Do I need a lawyer for a child support hearing?

Can I represent myself in family court without a lawyer?

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Establishing Child Support in Florida

In order to enforce child support, you must have a child support order signed by a judge and filed with a court clerk’s office. If you don’t alread...

Enforcement of Child Support in Florida

Compared to other states, Florida has very strict laws to ensure that noncustodial parents pay child support.

Other Penalties For Nonpayment of Child Support in Florida

Florida law also has other methods that do not directly obtain child support from delinquent parents, but instead punish those parents for nonpayme...

Make Sure You Are Prepared So That You—And Your Children—Don't Lose out.

Know What to Expect at The Hearing.

  • Whether you are attending your hearing in-person or virtually, here's what to expect. In some cases, a lawyer or representative from the Department of Social Services (DSS) or the Support Collection Unit may be at the hearing. If so, the person is there on behalf of the Child Support Program—he or she does not represent you or the other party. The ...
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What Happens After The Hearing?

  • Orders of support issued by the Court are usually paid through the Support Collection Unit. The order is given to the Child Support Enforcement Unit to set up a child support account. If you are the paying parent, the Support Collection Unit will issue an income withholding order (IWO) to your employer. The IWO requires your employer to take your support payments from your paycheck a…
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Note About Court Operations and Covid-19

  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each court may have different practices in place for hearings, such as holding hearings by phone or video. Visit the New York State Unified Court System for more information on current procedures for the Family Court in your county. Information about how to virtually appear in court is available on the courts' Customer Self-Service Portal.
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Key Terms

  • Financial Disclosure Affidavit
    1. An official document describing a person's income and expenses
  • Order of Support
    1. An order entered by a support magistrate or judge, directing that a specified amount of money be paid to the petitioner for a child
See more on childsupport.ny.gov