I need some advice on how to go about finding a good, credible and affordable father's rights attorney to represent me in Indiana (I am residing in Texas). I would also like to know if it's feasible for me to represent myself in court?
My ex (girlfriend of 7 years... we never married) and I verbally agreed upon child support payments and visitation without any court order for the first two years after SHE left ME and I subsequently moved back to Texas, my homestate.
Her most recent live-in boyfriend talked her into getting a court order for more child support. At the time, I could not afford to retain an attorney, much less travel to Indiana to appear in court (as all this occurred around the time I paid for a round trip ticket for my son to visit last summer). Long story short, since I did not appear in court, the ordered support is ridiculously high for an 8 year old boy, and I flat cannot afford it. My ex agreed that she would accept a lower amount (off the record), and I did get her to put it in writing. The problem is, she has her thumb on me because she can, at any time, tell the court that I'm not paying what was ordered. I have been faithful with the agreed upon payments -- I am a responsible father. But I cannot live with her holding this "power" over my head. I can prove my responsibility easily. How do I find the best attorney to help me (without paying a $75 or more fee for a list off of some random website), or find out if I can represent myself and not spend a fortune in attorney fees?
My ex (girlfriend of 7 years... we never married) and I verbally agreed upon child support payments and visitation without any court order for the first two years after SHE left ME and I subsequently moved back to Texas, my homestate.
Her most recent live-in boyfriend talked her into getting a court order for more child support. At the time, I could not afford to retain an attorney, much less travel to Indiana to appear in court (as all this occurred around the time I paid for a round trip ticket for my son to visit last summer). Long story short, since I did not appear in court, the ordered support is ridiculously high for an 8 year old boy, and I flat cannot afford it. My ex agreed that she would accept a lower amount (off the record), and I did get her to put it in writing. The problem is, she has her thumb on me because she can, at any time, tell the court that I'm not paying what was ordered. I have been faithful with the agreed upon payments -- I am a responsible father. But I cannot live with her holding this "power" over my head. I can prove my responsibility easily. How do I find the best attorney to help me (without paying a $75 or more fee for a list off of some random website), or find out if I can represent myself and not spend a fortune in attorney fees?