aewil asked this question on 7/13/2000:

I have been dating for a year now and we have developed a wonderful relationship and I we both would like to get married. What is holding me back is he pays child support to her ex. who is the custodial parent of their 12 year old son. She has difficulty with money management and unfortunately she is currently arrears a substantial amount. My question is, if we got married would I also be responsible for her past due financial obligations? My second question is, would our combined incomes be considered in future child support evaluations for increases in payments by her ex.

themuzicman gave this response on 7/13/2000:

If he is legally responsible to pay child support to her ex-husband for her children (which seems incomprehensible. Why would he have to pay for her kids), then you would also become legally responsible for those payments, if you marry him.

My guess is that your fiance pays some kind of alimony to her, and she pays child support, but I don't know the actual legal arrangement.

You, however, would only be legally responsible for the portion that your hubby is obligated to pay. And, if he is legally obligated to pay, then your income would be considered in future arrangements.

However, if he *is* legally obligated to pay child support, then he needs to get a new lawyer, because he should not be legally obligated for current child support payments, if he's divorced, and the child isn't his.

God Bless