Just curious about the current relationship im in.Iv been dating a girl for almost 2 years. She has been divorced for almost 5 years.She has 2 children from that past marriage. There biological father is in the picture and does pay child support. We do not live together or anything like that. My ? is will i be in anyway financially responsible (child support) for the kids, if in the future we marry or live together and things don't work out?? any advise would be appreciated. Thanks
???? About Child Support Involving Step Children
- Thread starter tonyvlx
- Start date
- Status
NBDad
New member
Due to that one bit of info, I would say it's possible, although very very unlikely you could be hit for CS for "step kids". If you did marry, and subsequently divorce, then you may be obligated for something, but not much. You would have a strong argument against it by virtue of the fact that bio-dad is in the picture.
Such things usually only come into play when bio-parent is NOT in the picture and the step parent basically acts in that capacity, is seen in the child's eyes as the "parent" and acts as such.
The term for it is called "In Loco Parentis" if you want to research it.
logicalvelocity
Moderator
Yes considering.
Your talking marriage and or commonlaw with the individual. Why wouldn't their kids form part of the all inclusive deal?
Your talking marriage and or commonlaw with the individual. Why wouldn't their kids form part of the all inclusive deal?
If you moved in together, would you be supporting them, or would the mother be working? If she was covering 100% of the children's expenses (whether from CS from the bio father, her income, or both) that weighs in your favour.
Would the children see you as a step-dad? How much would you involve yourself in their lives? Would you take them to and from school, get involved in their sports or other activities, go to parent/teacher meetings? Would you care for them when they home sick from school? Would you introduce them to your own family and would the be treated as family by your parents etc? These questions would all come into play.
There is no black and white answer, it would be a combination of things. If you tended to keep them at arm's length (but certainly be friendly and caring) and have the mother take care of all expenses, organize all activities and take care of discipline, etc that would put you as less of a parental figure. They also probably wouldn't like you very much.
Personally I would look at this situation as, do I want a family and would I otherwise be willing to adopt them? I'm speaking somewhat from experience here, I dated a woman with a child many years ago, before I was married, and these things all went through my head at the time. When our relationship ended I would have actually been very willing to pay support for the child, I cared for her very much. But not everyone is going to feel the same way and that doesn't reflect on you if you don't, it should be a choice. However don't try to sit on the fence, don't try to be a stepparent and then deny it after the relationship sours.
Would the children see you as a step-dad? How much would you involve yourself in their lives? Would you take them to and from school, get involved in their sports or other activities, go to parent/teacher meetings? Would you care for them when they home sick from school? Would you introduce them to your own family and would the be treated as family by your parents etc? These questions would all come into play.
There is no black and white answer, it would be a combination of things. If you tended to keep them at arm's length (but certainly be friendly and caring) and have the mother take care of all expenses, organize all activities and take care of discipline, etc that would put you as less of a parental figure. They also probably wouldn't like you very much.
Personally I would look at this situation as, do I want a family and would I otherwise be willing to adopt them? I'm speaking somewhat from experience here, I dated a woman with a child many years ago, before I was married, and these things all went through my head at the time. When our relationship ended I would have actually been very willing to pay support for the child, I cared for her very much. But not everyone is going to feel the same way and that doesn't reflect on you if you don't, it should be a choice. However don't try to sit on the fence, don't try to be a stepparent and then deny it after the relationship sours.
Is the woman you are with the type of woman who would look for multiple streams of income? How does she treat the father of her children. Does she squeeze him for every dime, or is she very reasonable? I think that should tell you something. Sadly, if a woman tries hard enough, she usually gets some money, entitled or not.
I am in a common law relationship and I receive no support from my sons biodad, even though he is in their lives, so my current partner would likely be on the hook if we broke up and I was so inclined. I wouldn't even consider such a thing though. If your girlfriend is an independant woman, I wouldn't worry too much.
I am in a common law relationship and I receive no support from my sons biodad, even though he is in their lives, so my current partner would likely be on the hook if we broke up and I was so inclined. I wouldn't even consider such a thing though. If your girlfriend is an independant woman, I wouldn't worry too much.
InterprovincialParents
New member
If you act as a parent to these children, yes, you would be responsible for child support down the road, regardless of whether or not the biological father is in the picture...this shocked the crap outta me when we learned it through the Parenting After Separation course. What a way for moms to go! lol Worse, in our particular course, the lawyer was encouraging us moms to do just that!
As of right now, because you don't live together you would not be on the hook for c/s.
If you get married, then yes you would most likely be on the hook for c/s. The laws in Canada don't prevent double-dipping into the c/s pool for the same kids. She could get married 8 times over and each husband would be on the hook.
The only way you may be able to argue against paying c/s is if you don't act a parent to the children and don't provide for their livelihood....so in other words, doom your marriage to failure.
rwm1273
New member
What a nasty biased system we have. Lawyers telling mothers how best to screw their partners. No code of ethics violation there!
InterprovincialParents
New member
There is no ethics violation in that, immoral as it sounds to any decent parent!
rwm1273
New member
(2) In offering legal services, a lawyer shall not use means
(a) that are false or misleading,
(b) that amount to coercion, duress, or harassment,
(c) that take advantage of a person who is vulnerable or who has suffered a traumatic experience and has not yet had a chance to recover,
(d) that are intended to influence a person who has retained another lawyer for a particular matter to change his or her lawyer for that matter, unless the change is initiated by the person or the other lawyer, or
(e) that otherwise bring the profession or the administration of justice into disrepute.
How many lawyers fail to follow this part of their code of conduct?
- Status