In a nutshell… maybe. The 1st question is: do you “stand in the place of a parent” to your step-kids? The court will look at the parental relationship while you were a family unit, not after the separation. Factors to be considered are: do you discipline them? Do you show others that you are responsible for them? What is your relationship with them compared with that of … [Read more...] about As a step-parent, do I have any child support obligations on separation or divorce?
Child Support
4-Part Series: Aspects of Separation & Divorce – Part 1: Child Support
The Child Support Guidelines govern how child support is calculated. First, determine your base amount using this handy online tool. Then, adjustments up or down may be required. On top of the base amount parents may still need to share children’s “special expenses” such as child care, health premiums/expenses, education, and extra-curricular activities. If the children are … [Read more...] about 4-Part Series: Aspects of Separation & Divorce – Part 1: Child Support
How Involved Should Our Children Be in Parenting Plan Decisions?
This is a very tough question. For some reason, many separating couples believe that at some magical age, the children should have the right to decide which parent they will live with after separation. Certainly, I would agree that there are many instances where children should be asked to meaningfully participate in decisions being made about their family. But for children to … [Read more...] about How Involved Should Our Children Be in Parenting Plan Decisions?