If I Am Not the Biological Parent of the Children, Do I Have to Pay Child Support?

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If I Am Not the Biological parent of the
Children, Do I Have to Pay Child Support?
A Guide for Couples Going Through Divorce
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CHILD SUPPORT IS AN OBLIGATION PARENTS HAVE TO
THEIR CHILDREN
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Child support is an obligation that parents have
to all of their children
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The court and public policy both operate on the
premise that a child deserves financial support
and, ideally, a relationship with both mom and
dad
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If a couple divorces, the parent who does not
have primary custody must pay his or her share of
child support (the cost of caring for the child)
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Are You the Biological Parent?
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• When determining if you must
• pay child support or not, it is essential to
  assess whether you
• are the biological parent

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If you are not married and are being told you
fathered a child, you will need to undergo a
paternity test to determine if you are a
biological parent and thus obligated to pay
support
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Non-Biological Parents Dont Have to Pay
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Parents who are not biological parents do not
have an obligation under most circumstances to
pay child support
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If you marry someone and there is no question the
children are from another marriage or
relationship, you have no obligation to support
the children in a divorce no matter how long you
lived with them
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Exceptions
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• There are exceptions to the rule that only
  BIOLOGICAL PARENTS must pay

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If you adopted a child, you are treated the same
as if the child was biologically yours and you
are obligated to pay support
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If you were married when the child was born and
held the child out as your own even though they
werent, you can be deemed their father
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An Attorney Can Help
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We invite you to contact us at [phone] to
schedule a consultation
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