[jenimills]

should you wipe it out when you adopt your stepchild?

[Searching_03256]

A couple of trains of thought on this:

1 - it is not YOURS to wipe out. The Court ordered it payed FOR YOUR CHILD and it belongs to your child.

2 - you may not be ABLE to... Some state laws prohibit you from doing so, especially if you have ever received any state aid of any sort.

3 - if it is a minimal amount, there is someone to take the place of the disappearing parent (and there is 'cause your doing a step-parent adoption...) AND beyond being in the best interest of the child for the adoption, the child will be harmed by having the other person around... then you might want to consider it.

-Scott

[vicrose]

It is really up to the judge whether or not he/she wants to wipe out the back child support....usually they won't....but in some rare instances..you never know.....Brenda

[jenimills]

Thanks, I am trying to find Texas state laws regarding this. I am trying to adopt my sd. Biomom owes $12,000+ in back child support and says if she doesn't have to pay that, she will sign over her rights.

[Teresa K]

I do not know about TX, but in ID a step parent adoption wipes it clean. A man I know was signing over his rights only to get out of paying and the Judge would not allow it. Seems that is not a valid reason. I would guess it depends on the state and judge entirely though. Teresa

[HISLIFE]

I feel if the child has been abused as a baby and the mother or father have custody of the child the other parent should pay back child support regardless of the court order. If an adoptive parent is in the picture the back and future child support should still continue while the child is still in school. If the original court order does not clearify the child support order, the adoptive parent and the natural parent shuld still receive the child support.