I am seriously thinking about marrying a man who has two children that he is supposed to be paying child support on. Currently he is behind and has no job. Can I be held resposible for his payments?

It's up to you obviously, but maybe you shouldn't marry a guy who has no job and doesn't support his kids. In short, yes, you would be responsible. The fact that you don't know this tells me maybe you should hold off on marrying him, but in the end it's your decision. Just be sure to do what's best for you. :)

... In short, yes, you would be responsible. ...

Oh, really? If Kansas is indeed different from every other state in the Union in this respect, please cite your authority.

While household income may be used to determine support, you wouldn't be held responsible for making the payments.

It's up to you obviously, but maybe you shouldn't marry a guy who has no job and doesn't support his kids. In short, yes, you would be responsible. The fact that you don't know this tells me maybe you should hold off on marrying him, but in the end it's your decision. Just be sure to do what's best for you. :)


Please post your reference for the "you would be responsible" statement.

I actually meant to say, in short, no. In the absence of a statute, under the common law, marriage alone does not obligate a stepparent to support his or her stepchild. Unless, however, the stepparent acts in loco parentis to a stepchild; residing in the same household and treating their stepchild as their natural child and taking responsibility for the child's care, education, and development, then the stepparent assumes an obligation to support the stepchild.

I actually meant to say, in short, no. In the absence of a statute, under the common law, marriage alone does not obligate a stepparent to support his or her stepchild. Unless, however, the stepparent acts in loco parentis to a stepchild; residing in the same household and treating their stepchild as their natural child and taking responsibility for the child's care, education, and development, then the stepparent assumes an obligation to support the stepchild.

And, again, do you have a statute to support that statement. We are not necessarily disagreeing with you. But in the legal forums, your answers need to conform to statutory law. If you make a statement about legal responsibilities, you need to be able to back it up with a specific cite if asked.

You mentioned elsewhere you are a law student. So doing this research should be easy for you.

I actually meant to say, in short, no. In the absence of a statute, under the common law, marriage alone does not obligate a stepparent to support his or her stepchild. Unless, however, the stepparent acts in loco parentis to a stepchild; residing in the same household and treating their stepchild as their natural child and taking responsibility for the child's care, education, and development, then the stepparent assumes an obligation to support the stepchild.


As a law student you should know how to post your research - please do so specifically concerning Kansas - which is the question. What you have posted appears to be a direct quote from another (step parent) site. If so, please post that or you are plagerizing.

I'm a little confused. You said, yes, the step parent would be responsible but you actually meant to say no? Don't you hate when that happens - you say one thing but mean the direct opposite?

I cannot find what you are referencing when both birth parents are alive.

What you have posted appears to be a direct quote from another (step parent) site. If so, please post that or you are plagerizing.


You recognized that also. I thought it sounded familiar. But yes, quoting from another source without attributing the source is plagiarism.

To creativename: We take a very dim view of that here. And I would suspect your instructors do also, so you should know better.