Im asking this qustion for my friend, he had a mental breakdown a few years ago and is not the same person anymore. he was diagnosed as having schizophrenia. back befor his breakdown, he got his long time girlfriend pregnant, she left him and moved out of state. she had an order placed on him for child support last june. since then he has been in a mental hospital, and now that he is out he cant get or cant hold a job because his personality just... well, to be blunt you can tell he's just not right in the head. now he has been ordered to pay all back child support or go to jail. the judge tol dhim if he dosent come back next time with the money or a lawyer he's going to jail. he cant afford a lawyer, because he has no money, he is aso still trying to get on all the goverment assistant programs so he could at least take care of himself. but none of this has gone through yet. his last court date he showed the judge all the paperwork concering his dissability, and explained his troubles with finding a job. the judge didnt care and still threatend jail. what can he do about this.

Im asking this qustion for my friend, he had a mental breakdown a few years ago and is not the same person anymore. he was diagnosed as having schizophrenia. back befor his breakdown, he got his long time girlfriend pregnant, she left him and moved out of state. she had an order placed on him for child support last june. since then he has been in a mental hospital, and now that he is out he cant get or cant hold a job because his personality just... well, to be blunt you can tell he's just not right in the head. now he has been ordered to pay all back child support or go to jail. the judge tol dhim if he dosent come back next time with the money or a lawyer he's going to jail. he cant afford a lawyer, because he has no money, he is aso still trying to get on all the goverment assistant programs so he could at least take care of himself. but none of this has gone through yet. his last court date he showed the judge all the paperwork concering his dissability, and explained his troubles with finding a job. the judge didnt care and still threatend jail. what can he do about this.

Has your friend applied for social security disability? If not, he needs to right away, the process can take a long time.

Your friend should contact legal aid and some local attorney's to see if he can get some pro-bono assistance. All Judges have to be able to make a finding of actual ability to pay before they can find a NCP in contempt. If your friend has all of the documentation of his illness it will be difficult for a Judge to LEGALLY make a finding of contempt (hopwever, some do anyway).

I'm wondering something though- this last time he was in court, when the Judge told him to come with money or an attorney next time- was that hearing on a contempt charge? If so, it's *possible* that the Judge couldn't make an actual finding of contempt, so instead is trying the "let's scare the hell outta the NCP" tactic in hopes that he'll find some money to bring in next time. If he cannot come up with any money at all, he'll need to bring in all documentation again, with recent documentation included.

Having spent a decade with a schizophernic I will agree with the suggestion made to investigate SSI ....As his friend I urge you to research what is a heart breaking illness