FATHER WAS NEVER PROPERLY INFORMED OF HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN THIS MAINTENANCE AND CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING AND NEVER WAIVED THAT RIGHT, ORDER OF COMMITMENT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court in this child support and maintenance arrears proceeding, determined that father was never properly advised of his right to counsel by the support magistrate. It was not sufficient that father was told the matter could be adjourned to allow him to speak to an attorney or that father could get in touch with legal aid:

… [W]hen the father first appeared in the Family Court, the Support Magistrate informed him that he had the right to request an adjournment to hire or speak with an attorney, or he could proceed to represent himself. The father elected to proceed representing himself, and no further advisement or inquiry was made by the court. At the next appearance, the Support Magistrate indicated that she would give the father contact information for the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, but she did not advise the father of his right to have counsel assigned by the court if he was financially unable to retain counsel. Several months later, when the parties appeared for the fact-finding hearing, both pro se, the Support Magistrate again advised the father that he had the right to request an adjournment to hire or speak with an attorney, or he could waive that right and represent himself. The father stated that he would represent himself, no further advisement or inquiry was made, and the fact-finding hearing was held, with both parties proceeding pro se.

By representing himself, the father was necessarily forgoing the benefits associated with the right to counsel … . Although a party may waive the right to counsel and opt for self-representation, prior to permitting a party to proceed pro se, the court must conduct a “searching inquiry” to ensure that the party’s waiver is knowing, intelligent, and voluntary … . A waiver is valid where the party was aware of the dangers and disadvantages of proceeding without counsel … .

Here, the record demonstrates that the father was not advised of his right to assigned counsel, as required. Further, there is no indication that he validly waived his right to counsel. Under these circumstances, the father was deprived of his right to counsel and reversal is required, without regard to the merits of his position in the enforcement proceeding … . Matter of Gallousis v Gallousis, 2018 NY Slip Op 08129. Second Dept 11-28-18

FAMILY LAW (RIGHT TO COUNSEL, FATHER WAS NEVER PROPERLY INFORMED OF HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN THIS MAINTENANCE AND CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING AND NEVER WAIVED THAT RIGHT, ORDER OF COMMITMENT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))/ATTORNEYS (FAMILY LAW, RIGHT TO COUNSEL, FATHER WAS NEVER PROPERLY INFORMED OF HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN THIS MAINTENANCE AND CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING AND NEVER WAIVED THAT RIGHT, ORDER OF COMMITMENT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))/RIGHT TO COUNSEL (FAMILY LAW, FATHER WAS NEVER PROPERLY INFORMED OF HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN THIS MAINTENANCE AND CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING AND NEVER WAIVED THAT RIGHT, ORDER OF COMMITMENT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))/WAIVER (RIGHT TO COUNSEL, FAMILY LAW, FATHER WAS NEVER PROPERLY INFORMED OF HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN THIS MAINTENANCE AND CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING AND NEVER WAIVED THAT RIGHT, ORDER OF COMMITMENT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))/CHILD SUPPORT (RIGHT TO COUNSEL, FATHER WAS NEVER PROPERLY INFORMED OF HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN THIS MAINTENANCE AND CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING AND NEVER WAIVED THAT RIGHT, ORDER OF COMMITMENT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))/MAINTENANCE  (RIGHT TO COUNSEL, FATHER WAS NEVER PROPERLY INFORMED OF HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN THIS MAINTENANCE AND CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING AND NEVER WAIVED THAT RIGHT, ORDER OF COMMITMENT REVERSED (SECOND DEPT))