The Marriage of Previously Married People

The Marriage of Previously Married People

When a married couple gets a divorce, both partners are free to remarry. As you have seen, though, this does not normally put an end to their obligations. If children are involved, the non-custodial parent will likely have to make child-support payments, while the custodial parent will have to continue to care for the children and allow his or her ex-spouse to spend time with them. And there may be spousal-support obligations involved as well.

But what happens if either spouse remarries? If the custodial parent wants to marry again, he or she will be bringing the children into the new relationship. If it is the non-custodial parent who wishes to remarry, he or she will be taking on an obligation to support a new spouse and possibly children. Will this parent have to continue making child support payments to his or her ex-spouse as well, effectively having to help support two separate families? 

A custodial parent is the person legally responsible for a child after divorce, though the non-custodial parent, as you have seen, frequently retains access rights. If the custodial parent remarries, his or her new spouse, the child's step-parent, can formally adopt the child, thereby assuming the legal obligations involved in becoming a parent.