Child Support and Remarriage

If you’re a non-custodial parent, it’s likely you are paying child support. Many parents have questions regarding child support and how it may be affected by various circumstances in their lives, as well as in the lives of their former spouses.

Child Support after Your Spouse’s Remarriage

One common question is “if my ex remarries, will my child support payments remain the same?” This is a valid question. Spousal support can be affected by the payee’s marital status, which leads some to wonder if remarriage may have an impact on child support as well. A remarriage is considered a permanent modification of a living situation for one parent and thusly his or her child. A permanent modification can only be changed when the need for support ends or another modification arises, according to Nolo’s Encyclopedia of Everyday Law.

In the state of Texas, however, it is unlikely that your child support payments will be affected by your spouse’s remarriage. If you and your ex have an amicable split then you most likely needn’t worry. You and your ex, as the legal parents, are bound by law to provide for your child until he or she reaches maturity, regardless of changes in your personal lives.

This is a positive thing in many ways, because the law puts emphasis on the importance of the child’s relationship with his or her legal parents. Your parental rights and responsibilities, including visitation and child support, are not changed when your spouse begins a relationship with someone new.

Seeking Legal Help

While your ex’s remarriage won’t affect your child support payments, your own income is a major factor in deciding support amounts. Should you find that financial circumstances require a child support modification, you may be able to modify the child support order either temporarily or on a more long-term basis, depending on the situation.

If you have any questions about child support modification or enforcement, custody, or any other child custody- or divorce-related issues, speak with a Texas family law attorney today.