Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Georgia

My brother is fighting a Contempt of Court filing by his former wife. His current wife has done the research and compiled a reply for the court. His first court date was Oct. 24th and he asked for a continuance to seek legal help. My brother is literally broke. He is only back to work after a 3 year jobless season, for a year now. He simply cannot afford an attorney.

My brother is very shy and when in court in front of the judge he just freezes up. My question is, can his current wife speak for him when the judge asks for his information? She's the one that deals with all their financial business and is very intelligent. This does affect her after all.


Asked on 11/02/13, 1:13 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Glen Ashman Ashman Law Office also dba Glen Ashman Attorney

Unless she is a licensed lawyer she cannot speak for him or represent him. That is the practice of law and she would go to jail if she practiced law without a license.

Your brother needs to sit down with a lawyer. Frankly he needs a lawyer in court. But even if he doesn't do that (and that can be expensive), it would be a huge mistake for him not to at least do a consultation with a lawyer. Money is not an excuse for not doing that. (My office charges $100 for an hour initial consultation).

Since contempt can land him in jail and cost him his job, he really needs to rethink not hiring counsel to appear in court. Going to court without a lawyer in a domestic case has the same chance of success as a gun battle where one side has a water pistol and the other side has an assault weapon.

Stress to him that his very freedom and financial future is on the line. It's not a time to pinch pennies.

Read more
Answered on 11/02/13, 1:51 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More General Civil Litigation questions and answers in Georgia