When my husband and his ex wife were divorced, they verbally agreed he would pay $250 a month in child support. Through the years, we have voluntarily increased that amount. My step daughter is now 17, and the ex wife is making visitation difficult. Since the originally agreed upon rate was $250 per month, can we go back to paying that and advise her to take us back to court if she wants an increase? If she does that, and the judge orders an increase, will we be responsible for paying back child support or will the increase be just going forward? Also, would we be at risk for her to demand that we be responsible to pay for her college?

Was there any support ordered by the court? Did the court ratify the verbal agreement?

ANY question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area.

It sounds as if there was never any real agreement, ( verbal agreements for child support are not binding and are like no agreement to the court)

So unless you had an agreement agreed to in court, you can stop paying any support basically,
But then that is just being childish and shows no love or concern for the child. ** as does the comment that shows you don't plan or want to help with their college costs either.

But if there is no court ordered visitation, then she does not have to allow any. But at 17 that sounds silly, since if he has been there for her all these years, she should want to visit.

But yes, she can go to court and file for support and ask for it to be set officially. Example in Ga it would be about 20 percent of your gross income. Plus possible responsibility to pay for health insurance and depending on where you live, to at least continue to pay child support while the child is in college till some older age

You made the serious error not getting it done years ago