What could happen if I don not appear in court?
Full Question:
I am raising my 22 month old granddaughter, my daughter is immature, makes wrong choices and has an on going drug problem. My granddaughters father was a 48 year old man married to a close family friend; who had watched my daughter grow up. I was extremely upset and I attempted to press charges against him for her being a minor. Because of the situation and his wife. He never cared to see the baby until recently when he saw her picture. Today I received a summons, which his name and public aid child support division were the petitioners and I am the
respondant. They want me to appear in court and if I do not appear to that I may be responsible for my grandchild until 18 years of age and for my daughters pregnancy and delivery fees. I work full time, but I receive a medical card for the baby. Going into court, with he and the support division appearing, I am thinking he is trying to establish paternity try to take the baby (though his name is not on the birth certificate). This would hurt me beyond words. I consider him a child molester. I wanted to know what they can do if I do not go to this hearing?
04/29/2009 |
Category: Courts |
State: ALL |
#16406
Answer:
When a person receives a summons and fails to appear, they may forfeit the opportunity to be heard and have a default judgment entered against them. This means that the other parties automatically win. What the precise effect will be will depend on what the other parties are
requesting. A person who fails to respond to a summons may also be held in contempt of court.