If you can't afford attorney, what steps do you take.
Can you make a motion to the courts yourself and get a courtdate set or what?
2007-01-11 05:42:17 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Why? Did you find a way to make your child less expensive to raise?
If you did please enlighten me - everyday mine get more and more expensive!
2007-01-11 05:47:04 · answer #1 · answered by Susie D 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, you can make a Motion yourself. Ask at the court registry what documents you should file. Depending on your region, the staff there may help you or refer you to staff that can. If they won't help, go to your courthouse library and ask about court forms and civil procedure.
These matters can be complicated, but judges tend to be a 'bit' forgiving when you can't afford a lawyer, especially if you have good reasons.
In Canada, there are child support guidelines that determine levels of child support based on income. If you live here, and your income has dropped, you can get your payments reduced almost as a matter of right.
Good for you for wanting to go through the court. It may be a confusing process but with some tenacity you can get your order.
2007-01-11 14:29:04 · answer #2 · answered by Peter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay. Go to your local courthouse. Somewhere in there is the Child Support Enforcement Division. They will help you calculate the amount of child supoort your should be paying. Child support is a calculation based upon the mothers income, the fathers income, the amount spent in child care, health insurance, etc. These amounts are added to determine the weekly amount of child support necessary. It is then divided by the percentage of income. For example, if you make $400 per week, and your ex makes $600.00 per week, he/she is responsible for 67% of the child support obligation, and you are responsible for 33%. If they determine that your income has changed - either increased or decrease, and it will change your current support obligation by more than 20%, they will help you file the proper petitions to modify. Good Luck.
2007-01-11 14:33:29 · answer #3 · answered by working mom of 3 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have two chances to get support payments reduced: a fat one and a slim one.
It CAN happen but it is rare. It may, in fact be raised by "computing" your wages as higher than they are.
Whateverjedi gave you good advice exept is completely wrong on the way Florida is mother friendly. They are, but it is sexist and wrong to judge one parent better than another based on sex only. There are about as many fathers who are every bit as good a parent as there are good mothers. To believe otherwise is sexual bigotry.
Try the alt.child-support newsgroup for assistance in pre se representation.
2007-01-11 18:37:17 · answer #4 · answered by Phil #3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can only cite my limited experience in the state of Florida, but you can file a pro se motion yourself and get a court date. Its near impossible to get it lowered, at least in Florida, but you're certainly free to take up the court's time to ask. Florida is a VERY mother-friendly state (as it should be) and I've never heard of any father being successful in lowering it... ever...
2007-01-11 14:03:10 · answer #5 · answered by gothjedi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can request a court date and go to court yourself. You have to show why you cannot make the payments as they are set, change of circumstance etc., and you can get the pmts reduced. Don't just let it go and not pay though, go to court.
2007-01-11 13:48:36 · answer #6 · answered by irongrama 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why do you want to? In my experience Child Support payments do not genuinely reflect what it costs to raise a child..... Hmmmm.... I reckon you'll need a pretty good reason.
2007-01-11 13:52:02 · answer #7 · answered by Searching 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are legal aid parent advocacy groups you can try. You also need a damn good reason and "I don't know where the money is being spent" is NOT a good reason!!!!!
2007-01-11 13:48:43 · answer #8 · answered by Lotus Phoenix 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋