I have been researching for a couple weeks, just looking for some advice of someone that has been there before.
Well, for starters, lets talk about your period of unemployment back in Dec/Jan. First question, WHY did you not file for unemployment? If you were out of work through no fault of your own, you would have probably qualified, and would've had those records to show. Did you quit a job or get fired from a job?
I gather you are back to work. Take check stubs or proof of earnings since your period of unemployment (letter from employer perhaps?) That will all have to be looked at, that's the sort of thing they need for proof of income. Income tax forms anyone?
Could you possibly come up with enough money to get an attorney just for your trip to court here which may have years of implications in your relationship with your daughter? They just do not look very kindly at people who come to court totally clueless and unprepared and just try to wing it in front of the judge. This is an occasion where splurging on a lawyer would be well worth it. I have heard judges very turned off by people who go in with very expensive clothes, cellular devices, tattoos, and show income from a pretty well paying job, who just can't pay their child support and just can't afford an attorney.