Child Support Obligations Generally Speaking, Essay

Another important thing is that the biological basis of the relationship that exists between the child and the parent would also be a basis for child support obligations. In a situation where the biological father of the child who had sexual interactions with the mother of the child just once and never did have any relationship with the mother or the child, the father should have child support obligations on the basis of being the biological father of the child Kargman, 1983()

In a scenario where a same sex partner who has no biological relationship with the child nor legal relationship with the child or their mother but had a long-term emotional relationship with both, should the couple split up, the partner would have child support obligations as a result of the child relying on the partner for provision of his/her needs Meyer & Bartfeld, 1996.

This is based on the estoppel theory.

In a different scenario where one same-sex partner serves as the egg donor but the other partner carries the embryo to term, should the couple split up and the egg donor retain custody, the other partner would still have child support obligations since they are biologically related to the child by virtue of carrying the pregnancy to term. In another scenario where conception is accomplished in vitro and the resultant embryo implanted in the mother against the wishes of the father, when the couple splits up, the father would not have child support obligations since the father was against the implantation in the first place. Since the parents had a choice not to implant the baby, the baby was implanted against the will of the father therefore it would not be right to force them to pay child support Bartfeld, 2003(; Lin & McLanahan, 2007)

Conclusion

Child support obligations were traditionally based on the biological relationship existing between the parents and the child.However, currently, the social relationship between the parent and the child also plays a huge role. This is what is dictated in the equitable doctrine of estoppel which has been used as a basis for determination of several child support cases.

References

Bartfeld, J. (2003). Falling through the Cracks: Gaps in Child Support among Welfare Recipients. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65(1), 72-89.

Carlson, M., Garfinkel, I., McLanahan, S., Mincy, R., & Primus, W. (2004). The Effects of Welfare and Child Support Policies on Union Formation. Population Research and Policy Review, 23(5/6), 513-542.

Garfinkel, I., & Lanahan, S.M. (1990). The Effects of the Child Support Provisions of the Family Support Act of 1988 on Child Well-Being. Population Research and Policy Review, 9(3), 205-234.

Harknett, K., & Knab, J. (2007). More Kin, Less Support: Multipartnered Fertility and Perceived Support among Mothers. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69(1), 237-253.

Huang, C.-C., Mincy, R.B., & Garfinkel, I. (2005). Child Support Obligations and Low-Income Fathers. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(5), 1213-1225.

Jason, DH (2002). Stepparenting after Divorce: Stepparents' Legal Position regarding Custody, Access, and Support. Family Relations, 51(4), 301-307.

Kargman, M.W. (1983). Stepchild Support Obligations of Stepparents. Family Relations, 32(2), 231-238.

Lin, I.F., & McLanahan, S.S. (2007). Parental Beliefs about Nonresident Fathers' Obligations and Rights. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69(2), 382-398.

Meyer, D.R., & Bartfeld, J. (1996). Compliance with Child Support Orders in Divorce Cases. Journal of Marriage and Family, 58(1), 201-212.

Pirog-Good, M.A. (1993). Child Support Guidelines and the Economic Well-Being of Children in the United States. Family Relations, 42(4), 453-462.

Pirog-Good, M.A., & Brown, P.R. (1996). Accuracy and Ambiguity in the….....