questions & answers

Question: My husband has a child support collection that was filed against him prior to our marriage, the child support collection is with his exwife and children that are not mine. I am obligated to pay the collection since the collection was prior to our marriage and it is for child support to his exwife and his children ?

Answer: Arizona Revised Statutes, section 25-503 governs the collection of child support.  A non-custodial parent owes an obligation to support his or her children.  Based on your question, I am assuming that your husband does not have custody of the children.  Nevertheless, the court has made a decision on the amount of support he needs to pay.  That support money comes from the father's income.  The fact that the two of you are now married and that your joint incomes are community property does not change his obligation to pay support.  Of course, the payment of child support diminishes your joint income.  This is a common problem faced in second marriages.