Step-child question regarding child support!!

Hi there,

I have a complicated situation. I am the non-custodial mom to two children 12 & 15. I am required to pay a high amount of child support. I am remarried to a wonderful man with 3 children. Together we have no children. My husband has custody of his youngest son (11 yrs. old) who was recently diagnosised with Bipolar disorder. I am unable to work right now because of the child's extreme needs. We are begging the state system for help, but we are not finding any avenues. My step-son is not able to be left alone in ANY situation or ANY room. He needs constant supervision. We have no friends or family that is willing to help us with him. It forces me, as my husband's wife and his step-mother, to provided the constant care he needs.

My question to you all is: Can I get a reduction in child support due to this change in situation and my inability to work outside of the home? I am unable to pay the large amount while I am not working. In the meantime, my husband is able to make his payments right now because he is the only one working.

FYI, My husband's ex-wife is unwilling to provide any help with this child. It has been crazy because I am responsible to care for this child but can not do what I need to be doing (working out of the home) to support my children. I currently live in Washington state.

Thanks for any input anyone might have.

[Gbyte]

Your husband needs to file for child support for his child.

Lowering support for your children since you choose not to work to watch your step child may or may not be a reason to lower child support. The only way to know for sure would be to contact the child support agency. I think you'd have to file for a review.

The courts would most likely look at it from the point of view that your biological children's needs come before your stepchild's needs.

It's unlikely you'd get a reduction in child support for a flimsy excuse like that. You want to lower your own biological children's support simply so you can take on the responsibility of taking care of someone else's child? Highly unlikely a judge would lower support based on that rationale.