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When parents get a new partner
Re-partnering and forming second families can be a significant life event. Approximately 50 per cent of mothers receiving child care payments remarry within five years of separation. This not only affects their lives and their children's lives, but the life of the other parent too. Whether it's you or the other parent who has formed another relationship, it's important not only for you but for your children, that you maintain a workable relationship with your ex.
I'm living with my new partner. Does my ex still have to pay child support for our children?
Yes. Both parents are responsible for the financial support of their children. Your children are not your new partner's financial responsibility. The other parent must continue to pay child support whether you or the other parent have a new partner or not.
If you have children with your new partner, this will not increase the amount of child support you receive for your other child or children.
If you have re-partnered, you may experience changes to:
- your financial circumstances
- your living arrangements
- the care arrangements of the children you share with the other parent
- your responsibilities.
Remember you need to contact CSA as soon as possible if your circumstances change as this may affect your assessment.
Re-partnering may also affect the living arrangements and care of your children, changes in care arrangements may change your child support payments.
The child support calculator may help you work out any changes to your child support.
My ex has a new partner now. How does that affect their child support responsibilities?
Your child support will not change if the other parent has a new partner. Even if the new partner has a high income, you will receive the same amount of child support.
Under very specific circumstances, the other parent can make a special application for a change of assessment to recognise extra costs that they may have with a new partner. This might mean a change of the amount of child support you receive.
If your ex-partner has a new child (a relevant dependant) from a new relationship, this may affect the amount of child support you receive. The child support formula takes new children into account in the calculation of child support. The child support calculator may help you to work out any changes to your child support.
Support and assistance
The Community Services Directory lists a variety of organisations providing information, guidance and support to parents at all stages of their relationship, including the journey into a re-partnered family. CSA also has a range of support products including Me, My kids and My Ex (PDF 836k), which can help you through this challenging time.
