A dad says that he has been summoned to court for contempt due to failure to pay child support, and that his lawyer has become unresponsive.

Here is my reply to him in the hopes that it helps other parents who face similar circumstances, and who are seeking a just outcome and a vigorous defense during their contempt hearings:

I am not a attorney and this is not legal advice.

This may be a violation of:

(a) A lawyer shall do all of the following:

(1) promptly inform the client of any decision or circumstance with respect to which the client’s informed consent is required by these rules;

(2) reasonably consult with the client about the means by which the client’s objectives are to be accomplished;

(3) keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter;

(4) comply as soon as practicable with reasonable requests for information from the client;

OHIO RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/ProfConduct/profConductRules.pdf

I would consider a complaint to your state's Bar Association and its State Disciplinary Committee. The ABA has links for each state:

Complaints Against Lawyers

The ABA is not a lawyer disciplinary agency and has no authority to investigate or act upon complaints filed against lawyers. Each state has its own agency that performs that function in regard to lawyers practicing in that state. Locate your state agency from the Directory of State Disciplinary Agencies.

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/resources/resources_for_the_public/

Most states provide a public defender if requested for child support contempt cases, but the defendant may need to ask for them. Here is the Ohio statute.

(2) Notice that the accused has a right to counsel, and that if indigent, the accused must apply for a public defender or court appointed counsel within three business days after receipt of the summons;

Section 2705.031 | Initiating contempt action for failure to pay support or comply with visitation order.

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2705.031

In general one legal defense may be the inability to pay. However, courts often do not give direction on how to make this defense. If I were you, and I wished to make an inability to pay defense, I might consider providing accurate financial and income information to my lawyer or to the court if I decided to represent myself. Here is some information from Michigan.

https://www.scribd.com/document/36189997/Evidence-of-Imprisonment-for-Debt-in-Michigan

I wish you the best of luck in your search for justice.

Please tweet or gettr with me to seek justice:

Please end debtors prison for men who may be victims of paternity fraud or child support calculation fraud. https://www.scribd.com/document/57079006/Some-Evidence-of-Illicit-and-Potentially-Criminal-Behavior-at-the-Michigan-Friend-of-the-Court Provide defendants with guidance to demonstrate inability to pay. @MIAttyGen @GovWhitmer @MISupremeCourt #BlackLivesMatter https://www.scribd.com/document/36189997/Evidence-of-Imprisonment-for-Debt-in-Michigan