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and adoptive parents must support their children until
age 18. Stepparents are not normally required to provide
support for their stepchildren. However, if a stepfather
agrees to be listed as the father on a child's birth certificate
he may, under certain circumstances, have to pay support
for that child. (You should contact a private attorney
for help with spousal support, temporary alimony and permanent
alimony.) Child support normally consists of
a monthly cash payment to the parent who has the children
living with him or her most of the time. However, the
non-custodial parent may also be required to pay a proportional
share of the child care expenses so the custodial parent
can work or get training, and a proportional share of
medical costs for the children that are not paid by
insurance.
A parent cannot stop or get rid of a support order
by filing for bankruptcy, or by refusing to pay support.
Refusing to pay may lead to jail. In addition, California
courts will not enforce any agreement between parents
that takes away adequate support for their children.
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