Summoned in a civil debt matter during travel

by Liz
(NJ, USA)

I have private school loans that are quite old. I defaulted on them with the original creditor and they went to an attorney for collections. I have been paying them for the past 7 years. I am currently unemployed and do not qualify for unemployment insurance; since I worked overseas for the past 4 years. I have notified the collection agency of this, and assured them that as soon as I was financially able I would resume payment, but they still plan to go to the "next step". I am assuming this means a court case where they pass a judgment to garnish wages or do liens on my assets. I have no house or car and currently no wages. I am traveling to look for work and believe I will be summoned at a time when I will be unable to be at the court. Can a family member step in with my written authorization to state my case to the judge? Is there a specific form for this?