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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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