Child support payments and access rights to civil partnership partners biological children

Question: My friend is in a civil partnership of 5 years with another woman, but things are rocky at the moment and they may end up dissolving the civil partnership. Her partner has two small children from a previous relationship (10 and 8) with whom she has a very close relationship.

If they were to dissolve the partnership, would she have to pay child support, even though they are not her biological children? She loves them dearly but I do not believe she should be responsible for paying for their upkeep should the relationship end. Am I right?

Answer: Yes she is liable to pay but, however, there can be far greater problems as regards contact (access). The biological mother always gets a Residence Order (custody), and often denies the former partner access to the child(ren).

Consult Hylton-Potts, the experts who offer fixed fees, and give excellent value.

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