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

Unfortunately, the law doesn't take into account any of these things... and a court can award child maintenance for step children, especially if they are not supported by their other biological parent. Sorry...

I do find this very hard to accept that I may have to pay.What happens then when she gets another boyfriend on the scene do I still pay then.

Your right though she is a disgrace at the moment she has the morals of a alleycat!!

Th ebloke she went with,I think has dumped her,probaly wanted fun but no baggage.

He love CV is going to attract a few men (For one night I'm sure)....37 divorced 3 times,3 children by 2 different men....

Sounds bitter but got to let off steam somewhere and we all probaly got bad exs somewhere!!lol

I wish I had my eyes more open all those yrs ago,I thought she had changed but no and now I'm finding out to my cost!

Anyway I have a appointment with my solicitor in the morning and will be writing out a few questions that I may need answering.

If there are any important question you feel i need to ask please can you let me know.

Thanks

I really do sympathize with you... it seems very unfair to me. The reason I know these things is because my partner is in a similar position, as he took on two children who were fathered by someone else. He loved the children and doesn't want them to suffer in any way but feels aggrieved that their housing needs are his responsibility and not their well paid fathers...

The law is quite clear. Conduct is rarely a factor in determining finances. Under s25 Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 the courts must give priority to the welfare of dependent "children of the family." That is to say any child that lived with as family - the courts do not discriminate between natural children and step children.

The CSA has no authority over CM for step children so courts retain jurisdiction. The first port of call for child maintenance is the natural father, but when he has not paid maintenance the consideration is the nature and duration of the relationship between step parent and child. When a step parent has assumed responsibility for maintaining a step child the court may order they should continue.

Don't underestimate the importance of the children. Unfortunately responsibility for CM doesn't end if a new boyfriend comes along. The relationship could end and your wife would not be able to make claims against him unless they married and he had assumed responsibility for maintaining the children.

... but even if the natural father has paid maintenance the step father is still liable, as I mentioned, my partner has to provide a home for his stepson, regardless if the child's biological father has the resources to do so...

What's more there's nothing he can do about getting contact with his step children because as stepfather he doesn't count in the eyes of the court... only when money is involved...

Yes, sorry, my second and third paragraphs were referring to the title of the thread "Maintenance for step-children" as opposed to the settlement of capital. When it comes to splitting assets the priority is the welfare of dependent children of the family breaking down and the courts do not discriminate between natural, adopted or step children.

I have reached mediation stage now with my ex-husband. He married me when I had two young boys. The eldest was 4, youngest 2. My 4 yr old has always recieved CM from his father, however my younger son has never met his father and is untraceable -could even be dead. I had two girls with my ex we were married for 11 years. Good reasons for divorcing him on ground of unreasonable. He is paying CM at 46.00 a week for the girls and nothing for my younger son. I am disgraced at the way he has treated them and feel he should also pay CM for my younger son as he took him on as his own. Both my boys took on his family name. Now he lies and says they never called him dad. It is a disgrace the way he has behaved, but I know the debts he has ran up on online poker has turned him into a monster. Can anyone advise me on how to make this claim to the court so he pays maintenance for his step child? Can they take it from the equity in the house?