TWENTY STATES WITH STATUTES THAT IMPOSE A DUTY ON STEPPARENTS TO SUPPORT THEIR STEPCHILDREN:

(1) Delaware: Del. Code Ann. tit. 13, 501(b) (1994) (stepparent liable for support of stepchild during marriage);

(2) Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. 577-4 (1993) (stepparent liable for support of stepchild during marriage);

(3) Iowa: Iowa Code Ann. 252A.2(3) (Supp. 1996) (including stepchild in definition of children to whom a duty of support is owed);

(4) Kentucky: Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. 205.310 (Michie 1995) (stepparent has duty to support stepchild during marriage);

(5) Maine: Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 19, 752(6) (Supp. 1995) (support may be ordered against third party where such party takes custody after divorce after showing of parental unfitness);

(6) Missouri: Mo. Ann. Stat. 568.040 (Vernon Supp. 1996) (criminal nonsupport statute applies equally to parents and stepparents);

(7) Montana: Mont. Code Ann. 40-6-217 (1995) (if stepparent receives stepchild into family and supports him or her, stepparent is presumed to do so as a parent);

(8) Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-706 (1995) (criminal nonsupport statute applies to stepparents);

(9) Nevada: Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. 62.044 (Michie 1996) (stepparent liable to same extent as parent for neglect and dependency of child);

(10)New Hampshire: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. 546-A:1, 546-A:2 (1974) (stepparent owes duty of support to stepchild during marriage);

(11) New Jersey: N.J. Stat. Ann. 30:4C-2 (West Supp. 1995) (includes in definition of child under neglect and dependency proceedings a stepchild);

(12) New York: N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act 415 (Consol. 1983); N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law 101 (McKinney 1992) (stepparent liable for support of stepchild to prevent the same from becoming a public charge);

(13) North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-13.4 (1995) (any person standing in loco parentis to child has duty of support);

(14) North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code 14-09-09 (1991) (extending stepparent support duty during the marriage and so long thereafter as the stepchildren remain in the stepparent's family);

(15) Oklahoma: Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 10, 15 (West 1987) (stepparent has duty of support to stepchild);

(16) Oregon: Or. Rev. Stat. 109.053 (1990) (stepparent has duty of support to stepchild);

(17) South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws Ann. 25-7-8 (1992) (a stepparent shall maintain spouse's children born prior to the marriage);

(18) Utah: Utah Code Ann. 78-45-4.1 (1992) (imposes support duty on stepparent that terminates on divorce);

(19) Vermont: Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, 296 (1989) (stepparent has duty of support of stepchild);

(20) Washington: Wash. Rev. Code Ann. 26.16.205 (Supp. 1996) (imposes duty of support on stepparent which shall cease on termination of relationship between husband and wife).

SOURCE: LAURA MORGAN, WWW.CHILDSUPPORTGUIDELINES.COM

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