| When a man or woman married someone who has | | | | for different situations. One important thing to |
| children, that person takes on them all of the obligations | | | | remember is not to add fuel to the flames. It may be |
| and duties of a parent. Step parenting can be a big | | | | tempting to gain up on the other biological parent with |
| adjustment for someone, especially if they have never | | | | the spouse, but that isn't usually effective. |
| had children. On top of this, a step parent may have to | | | | 3. Does a step parent have to pay child support? This |
| deal with child custody issues for the first time. It is | | | | question depends on where you live. Most states |
| understandable and normal for the new parent to be | | | | calculate child support according to what the biological |
| full of questions about different aspect of child | | | | parent makes. Usually the new parent's funds are not |
| custody. Here are some common custody questions | | | | considered. However, there are some places where |
| and answers. | | | | the step parent's income will increase the amount of |
| 1. What is a parenting plan? A new spouse may talk | | | | support. And, there are also some places (mostly in |
| about the parenting plan or custody agreement, and | | | | Canada) that will require a step parent to pay child |
| the step parent may have questions about it. The | | | | support if the couple divorces. Check your local laws. |
| parenting plan, also called a custody agreement, are | | | | 4. Can a step parent seek child custody? This |
| the documents that outline all of the information about | | | | questions also depends on where you live. Basically, a |
| child custody. It contains the custody and visitation | | | | parent doens't have custody rights over children that |
| schedule, the type and terms of custody, a holiday | | | | aren't biologically theirs--even if they have been with |
| schedule, child support information, parenting provisions, | | | | the children a long time. If the new parent becomes so |
| and anything else the parents want included. | | | | close to the children that they would want to be a |
| 2. How can a step parent help in a custody dispute? A | | | | custodial parent, they should look into legally adopting |
| step parent may enter a situation where the biological | | | | the children. This can be a tricky issue because it |
| parents are in a custody dispute. If this happens, the | | | | means the other biological parent must give up |
| new parent can be a good source of information | | | | parental rights to the child. Also, if child support is being |
| because they view the situation from an outside | | | | paid, the parent will most likely have custody and |
| perspective. There are many ways to answer this | | | | visitation rights. |
| question because help can be given in different ways | | | | |