Many times I have seen recommendations here about seeking a lawyer who will work pro bono. Finding such a person is far more difficult than it sounds. The first problem is that, if you earn more than 125% of the federal poverty level, you don't qualify - even if you earn only a couple of thousand a year too much. Another problem is that in many areas they only take certain cases - and child support is not one of them. Lawyers who will work for a reduced price are also few and far between - and often there are significant restrictions, such as having to live in a particular area. The largest county in our state has exactly ONE lawyer who will work for a reduced price on family law issues, according to one program I talked to. I was actually told by one organization that I did not earn enough to qualify for their reduced price lawyers, though I earn a little too much to be indigent.

When my W filed for divorce the FIRST time, she had her lawyer request that I pay for her attorney fees as part of a support motion. If your spouse has a job or assets, etc, ask the lawyer to go this route.

Even though he has a college degree and lots of experience, he managed to stay unemployed for over two years, during most of which time the economy was doing very well. He finally took a low-paying job, and now he is trying to reduce the already piddling amount of chld support he has been paying.