The Japanese have a term, kenzoku, which translated literally means family.. The connotation suggests a bond between people who've made a similar commitment and who possibly therefore share a similar destiny.
The laws in different states vary on whether a stepparent in this situation may have child custody rights or pay child support. In some states and situations, the stepparent may be ordered to pay child support if the stepparent loses primary physical custody of the child.
Child Support. Child support is the amount of money the court orders a parent to pay each month for the support of a minor child or children. California has a formula called Guideline Child Support for figuring out how much child support should be paid. Click here to learn more about how child support is calculated.