Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

Re: re-marrying

It generally will not be affected by children incurred AFTERWARD; ie. you cannot dilute a child support obligation by having or adopting more children. Consult with your attorney for specifics.

Re: re-marrying

Your child support will not reduce by adopting other children. In the words of a retired judge, the second family is your dessert. You pay for the main course before you buy dessert.

Moreover, I am going to moralize here and ask just WHAT you are thinking?

You do NOT pay child support to your ex-wife. You pay child support to your CHILDREN. Your ex-wife is merely the CONDUIT, who is expected to pay for things like shelter, food, essential transportation, clothing, and so on.

If you cannot afford both the new responsibility and the old, DO NOT TAKE THE NEW ONE ON. Nothing at law requires you to adopt these other children. If their biological father is alive, HE SHOULD REMAIN INVOLVED AND SUPPORTING THEM. If he is not -- well, you do what you can, but YOUR FIRST CHILDREN COME FIRST.

My moralizing may not win me a friend or client here. However, you will hear this lecture from a judge if you go to court. Better that you hear it from a faceless typing lawyer than the in-person judge who you will see again and agian.

Gregory P. Lee

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