What impact does a parents remarriage, or having other children, have on child support?
Children are not to be penalized for circumstances or living arrangements over which they have no control. Child support may not be reduced below the statutory minimum based solely on the fact that the custodial parent supports other persons not entitled to support by the noncustodial parent, or the custodial parent is receiving welfare. The situation becomes complicated when the custodial parent has other children in addition to the current respondent’s child to support. In such event, the child’s need is one relevant factor in determining support, along with other relevant factors, including the social problems surrounding one sibling having more than others, the visitation (or relationship) with noncustodial parent, and the extent to which payments by the respondent parent actually benefit those who are not directly entitled to the support benefit. The court will consider all relevant facts in an effort to provide support for all of the children, but there is a sort of “rule of thum
None, for the parent receiving child support. Possibly some, for the parent paying child support. Remember that net income is calculated by subtracting from the obligor’s gross income his or her FICA payments, the amount of withholding tax deducted for a single wage earner claiming one withholding allowance, and the amount of child support ordered pursuant to a previous order of child support for other children. Please check with an attorney. Case law is developing slowly that may alter the calculation for more complicated situations. The key point to remember is that, if a paying parent has more children, this does not reduce the child support obligation. There may be a reduction only if the paying parent is ordered by a court to pay child support for another child. Some judges may handle this situation differently.
