What would be the custody and support obligations for my husband for my 13 year old that is not biologically his?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What would be the custody and support obligations for my husband for my 13 year old that is not biologically his?

A 11 year marriage that was filled with drugs and abuse. My son only knows him as his father since he was one. Louisiana

Asked on May 12, 2009 under Family Law, Louisiana

Answers:

B. B., Member, New Jersey Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 14 years ago | Contributor

Many courts recognize the concept of a "psychological parent" in cases like this, if your husband has supported him and otherwise been a father to him for almost all of his life.  Often this is especially true if you have lost contact with the biological father in the meantime, so that you would have nobody else to pay child support.

This works both ways.  If your husband wants to continue being a father to the boy, you would probably not be able to use the fact that he's not the biological father to stop him.  If there are other reasons to keep him away from your son, that would work the same way as with a natural father who was not good for the boy, you could still use those -- and probably still get child support as well.

These cases always depend on the facts, and every case is different.  Also, I'm not a Louisiana attorney, and there may be some differences in the law there that would be important.  To find a qualified divorce lawyer in your area, you can go to our website, http://attorneypages.com


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption