Step parents are not mandated to provide child support. Nonetheless, some states have statutes that can mandate a step parent to provide child support when the child is living in the same household as the step parent. However, this would likely be the case if the child’s parent(married to the step-parent) is unable to provide financially for the child. (This is done through the Marital Settlement Agreement). Step- parents can also be ordered to pay child support in a case where they stand in as an acting parent for the child.
Divorce Advocates of Grand Rapids 