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 must be paid until the child's 18th birthday unless the child has not graduated from high school. If the child has not graduated high school then child support continues until the child graduates from high school or turns 20, whichever occurs first.nless the custodial parent agrees otherwise, child support is typically paid by a wage assignment. This means that the child support payments are to be deducted from the wages of the parent who is obligated to pay child support.