I am under an order to pay $200 a month in child support for my daughter. She lives with my parents (I am fighting them for custody) and I only have an income of $800 a month. Paying them $200 leaves me not much to try and live on. They also get support from her father and I have court testimony from myparents stating that they don't need the support money and in fact give it to my daughter to spend as she pleases.

I have court on Wednesday on the charges of failure to provide the ordered support and I have no attorney. What can I expect to happen?

I am under an order to pay $200 a month in child support for my daughter. She lives with my parents (I am fighting them for custody) and I only have an income of $800 a month. Paying them $200 leaves me not much to try and live on. They also get support from her father and I have court testimony from myparents stating that they don't need the support money and in fact give it to my daughter to spend as she pleases.

I have court on Wednesday on the charges of failure to provide the ordered support and I have no attorney. What can I expect to happen?

Who filed for contempt, your parents, or the state CSE agency?

Have you, your ex, or your parent's ever collected public assistance?
In other words, is any reimbursement owed to the state?

Why do you have such a low income?

How much are your arrears, and when was the last time you made a payment?

What might happen, and what you can do depends on the answers to those questions.

I am under an order to pay $200 a month in child support for my daughter. She lives with my parents (I am fighting them for custody) and I only have an income of $800 a month. Paying them $200 leaves me not much to try and live on. They also get support from her father and I have court testimony from myparents stating that they don't need the support money and in fact give it to my daughter to spend as she pleases.

I have court on Wednesday on the charges of failure to provide the ordered support and I have no attorney. What can I expect to happen?

How can you gain custody of her if you cannot even support yourself?

How can you gain custody of her if you cannot even support yourself?

True, however, I'm wondering if the OP is disabled and the $800 is SSDI/SSI.

True, however, I'm wondering if the OP is disabled and the $800 is SSDI/SSI.

Not possible.

If the OP was on SSDI/SSI there would be an additional check for the child for $400. That check would go directly to the person in custody.

No wonder so many of my students can afford cool new cell phones and $75 jeans... Wonder how many checks I could get? Surely there's a DSM label for me.

At any rate... you are expected to pay the amount the courts determined you are required to pay. You cannot decide to stop on your own or cut back on payments... what they set is what you need to pay.

Now then, if you're unable to pay the amount set... it would be important to prove to the court why... disability, full-time student... It's my understanding that incarceration and unemployable due to work ethic aren't good qualifiers for modification of support.

If you must represent yourself... do so in a professional manner. No ya's or nah's... Yes Sir, No Sir will be expected. Be clean, neat, nicest clothes you feel comfortable in... if you're going to walk like a peacock in a skirt and heels (like I do) then maybe a pants suit and flats is a better call. Don't wear too much make up or call too much attention to parts of your anatomy... including, but not limited to, breasts or areas tattooed or excessively pierced. Leave your cell phone in the car!!

From the information you've given, that's the best I can do. Surely there's a reason your parent's have custody and you don't that would highlight some key issues to your situation?

OH... and as far as working on getting sole custody... make sure the decisions you make are the ones in the best interest of your daughter. If your parents are providing her a stable, loving, supportive home environment, maybe her best interest is maintained there? Hopefully you've been able to establish a relationship with her that is nurturing and supportive as well. I would be hard pressed to know how to manage on $800 a month. Doing so would likely cause me stress and anger and I know in that situation, I wouldn't be the best mother I could be. Sometimes tough love is the best love. Just remember you brought this little girl into the world... she isn't a gift for you, she's a gift for the world... helping her become the best person she can be is your job as her parent. If that means you have to be reasonable and admit that you can't provide for her in the way that's best for her... then that's what you need to do. Parenthood is selfless love.

I am under an order to pay $200 a month in child support for my daughter. She lives with my parents (I am fighting them for custody) and I only have an income of $800 a month. Paying them $200 leaves me not much to try and live on. They also get support from her father and I have court testimony from myparents stating that they don't need the support money and in fact give it to my daughter to spend as she pleases.

I have court on Wednesday on the charges of failure to provide the ordered support and I have no attorney. What can I expect to happen?

How did court go today?

Unfortunately, you didn't return to answer my questions, so we were unable to assist you before the hearing.