Should I bring a lawyer to a child support hearing?
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Should I bring a lawyer to a child support hearing?
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My girlfriend and I have a two year old daughter. We broke up back in November. Since she's a single mom, she is getting food assistance through the state of Michigan and since she's getting this assistance, the state is coming at me for child support.
My ex and I are on good terms most of the time, but sometimes she's crazy and comes up with things in her head that are completely wrong and gets pissed at me and starts fights.
The hearing is going to be in front of a judge, but totally informal. What I'm wondering is should I bring a lawyer? I have plenty of documentation about what I spend on my daughter and money I've been giving my ex, and receipts. I'm just not sure if I should bring a lawyer. I don't have a lot of money, so spending money I don't have on a lawyer won't be easy. But I'm just wondering if it will help me or be a waste of lots of money that I don't have.
Like I said, this isn't formal and this isn't a custody battle. We're just going in and figuring out how much I'll be paying for child support. Thanks for any info.
Additional Details
The state IS coming at me for child support. It's required by the state when any single mother applies for state assistance, they come to the father for child support. If she wasn't getting assistance, they wouldn't be coming to me.
Will they seriously not count the money I've been giving her? Unfortunately for a while I was giving her cash and I know she'll tell them that also. I just started giving her checks last month so they would documented. I'm going to be so mad if they make me pay back to the start of her assistance and not count what I've already given her.
Here's another thing. She lives in the county I live in, but they are so busy and horrible, they wouldn't open a case for her. She tried three times. So she changed her address to her mothers which is one county away and filed there. That's considered fraud and i'm wondering what would happen if I blew that up when we went to court.
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firewomen
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You will not have any choice in the amount you pay for child support. The court will not care if you have one dollar left to live on and it will not care how much money you have been giving you girlfriend. The child support order will probably go back to November when you split with girlfriend. I do not believe it would be a waste of time to have an attorney present.* |
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minimickimichelle
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Nothing in front of a judge is 'informal'. If it makes it to a judge, it's legally binding and that's not informal. However, taking a lawyer won't change or help anything, so you don't need to spend your money on one. Just bring proof of income, as well as the receipts and proof you mentioned. Most states have a computer program that determines the amount of support regardless of other personal difficulties or issues. It is calculated on your income, her income, how many children and their ages. It is very impersonal and saying or doing anything in front of a judge to try and make it personal won't do you a bit of good, in fact, it could hurt you. Just go in with the facts, a calm attitude and a non-aggressive way of communicating, that will help you the most. In the long run, if you have to return to that judge in the future for any changes or for any other issues, like visitation, a calm demeanor will be highly in your favor. |
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N H
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Your gonna get milked by the judge, they will take a look at your Salary and calculate your living expences ect, a lawyer being there will mean nada..take all your reciepts and proof of money you have give your baby mother |
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Jamie R
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They are going to take a percentage of your monthly earnings. It doesn't matter if your lawyer is present or not. All those receipts will probably amount to nothing, but bring any proof you have, since the judge can backdate payments to when you divorced. That would mean even more out of your check for quite some time. I wish you the best and pray that you get a male judge, because a female will probably add on the stipulation that she roshambow you when she picks the check up monthly. Oh and she started the proceedings by the state for child support. The state does not do that. Sorry to burst your bubble. They may have contacted you, but she contacted them. |
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