STEPCHILDREN: DO I REALLY HAVE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT FOR THEM?

As a family law attorney in British Columbia, I often see clients trembling and flinching when they learn that their soon-to-be ex might sue them for child support for the stepchildren—even if the ex already receives it from the original parent. How is it possible? This seems like double dipping, don’t you think? The issue is even severe for those whose divorce involves a high earner earning $150,000 or more annually who has three stepchildren and a biological parent making just $50,000 annually. First glance at the federal child support guidelines (the fcsg) indicates that a hefty monthly payment of $2000 to $3000 (minus the $998 from the biological parent) might be on the way! Oh no. You could end yourself driving the old Toyota Prius for a while—forget about the new Audi R8. What is the duty? In order to help you, we must comprehend the fundamental legal framework that governs the stepparent child support issue. The family law statutes in British Columbia and Canada stipulate that when someone stands in the place of a parent—a fancy legal term that essentially means step-parent—they are not always required to pay child support in the same way that they would for a biological child. The duty is obvious for a natural kid as the amount of child support that must be paid is determined by a chart that takes into account the parent’s income. establishing how to exercise discretion over the amount owed becomes the main problem when establishing how much a step-parent is required to pay. Regretfully, stepparents must take into account both the biological parent’s legal obligation to provide for the kid as well as the amount of child support that is due under the rules. To put it simply, you begin by examining the incomes of the biological parents and the stepparents, but you don’t stop there. The good news for stepparents is nowhere to be found. Looking at the precedence on a step-parent’s duties established in the case law, there is some relief from the requirement. It’s crucial to keep in mind that stepparents who provide the necessary information or depend on it will be treated equally by the law. To be honest, stepparents may face severe consequences for improperly handling child support for their adopted children. I’ll list a few of the many data that were at hand and used to lessen the legal requirement: the bond with the stepchild (a). This might be a crucial factor to take into account when a stepchild refuses to interact with their stepparent. Support may be cut short if: a. the child’s bond with the stepparent fades or disappears upon separation; and b. the relationship’s duration. There’s usually a greater chance that assistance may be withheld from children whose stepparent ties are shorter; and c.new connections. Reducing support is more likely if a parent who is asking a stepparent for child support has started dating someone else. Unfortunately, paying child support for a stepchild is a reality. The idea behind step-parent child support is that the kid has a right to the quality of life they had while living with and receiving care from the step-parent. Therefore, it could be crucial for stepparents who believe that their marriage to their spouse is in jeopardy to carefully consider the lifestyle they are setting for their stepchildren. If the partnership ends, supporting a better quality of life can merely result in a more substantial responsibility. Regrettably, there are instances where stepchildren mistreat stepparents because they are unable to reconcile their connection with their biological parent and their stepparent relationship. These stepparents must be aware that, even in this case, there may still be a child support responsibility to a stepchild in the event that the marriage or partnership terminates. If you are divorcing or separating from your spouse and have stepchildren, it may be crucial to understand what you may do legally to lessen your duty to these children. Family law attorney Aaron Lessing is affiliated with Lessing Brandon & Company in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Aaron enjoys spending time with his lovely wife and children in the stunning province of British Columbia. One of the top divorce attorneys in South Surrey, British Columbia, is Aaron Lessing.