Maintenance for a step child........

My stbx is threatening to claim child maintenace for my step son after she has left the home if i divorce her on adultery and will get legal aid as she has 3 boys under 18.She earns about 14K plus £180 a month child benifit plus £230 tax credits plus £250 dla benifits which equall about £21k a year.

The fact are that the boy is nearly 13 and we changed his name to match mine a few yrs ago.The biological father is awol and has been for many yrs.

Is it possible for her to claim mantenance from me for a step son.

Any other info needed just ask

thanks

As far as I know you don't need to unless you formally adopted him.

However, if you regard him as your son and he thinks of you as his father you will still want to support him financially anyway, won't you? Though not necessarily through his mother, and depending on how much contact you continue to have with him.

What's your relationship with the other two boys? Were their names changed?

I think if you treated the child as a 'child of the family' during the mariage then a court can award your stbx child maintenance for your stepson in the absence of funding from the biological father...

Yes, think Ephelia is right.

However, CSA would not be involved, but a Court Order could be obtained.

CSA only applies to birth/adopted children.

Jo x

I will have as much contact with him as long as she allows it.The other two have a different father.She could get back in touch with the csa to get the father back to paying but we never pushed that issue when he stopped paying a few yrs back.I would never see him going short and would still provide for him BUT not through her.The £20 I gave her a week last friday towards school shoes,she still has not bought him any and he goes to school in some scabby old trainers.

Erm Sorry to say this Andru again but tough!

You would need to pay some form of spousal maintenance through the Ancillary Relief stage of the divorce but no csa payments would be due. Don't give her anymore money than you need to otherwise she will get used to it and use you. Sorry that sounds harsh to the female fratenity but having seen / read what andru has gone through he needs to stand a bit tougher!

Andru

You have brought 3 boys belonging to your X up, she cheats on you and then demands money from you. She is an Absolute disgrace to all those women (including me) out there.

Jo x