Step parents are not mandated to provide child support. Nonetheless, some states have statutes that can require a step parent to provide child support when the child is living in the same household as the step parent. These statues are usually put in effect in a case where the child’s parent(married to the step-parent) is unable to provide financially for the child. (This is done through the Marital Settlement Agreement) Step- parents can also be ordered to pay child support in a case where they stand in as an acting parent for the child.
