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.
Wisconsin Child Support Guidelines. Children have a legal right to receive support from both of their parents. The child support guidelines that Wisconsin courts use to set child support payment amounts is called the Percentage of Income Standard. This standard considers the income of the parent, the amount of time the child spends with each parent, and if the parent is supporting other children.