blog home Child Support Remarriage and Child Support Obligations in Pennsylvania

Remarriage and Child Support Obligations in Pennsylvania

By Sheryl Rentz on August 14, 2025

One area that often causes confusion after a divorce is how remarriage impacts child support obligations.

If you or your former spouse has remarried or is planning to do so, you may wonder whether that change in marital status will increase, decrease, or otherwise affect child support responsibilities in Pennsylvania. Divorce doesn’t end the responsibilities a parent has to their child.

Whether you’re paying or receiving child support, it’s important to understand how Pennsylvania courts view remarriage and whether step-parent income or household changes could trigger a modified support order.

At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., we regularly advise clients navigating complex family dynamics, including remarriage, blended families, and evolving financial circumstances.

Child Support Basics in Pennsylvania

Before diving into how remarriage factors into the equation, it’s essential to understand how child support is initially determined in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania child support system follows statewide guidelines based primarily on the parents’ incomes and the number of children involved. In these cases, courts consider:

• Monthly net incomes of both parents
• The custody schedule (number of overnights with each parent)
• Health insurance costs
• Childcare expenses
• Extraordinary medical or educational needs

Once support is ordered, it remains in effect until modified by the court, typically through a petition for a modified support order.

Does Remarriage Affect Child Support Obligations?

Under Pennsylvania law, the general rule is that remarriage alone does not automatically change child support obligations. The income of a new spouse (step-parent) is not included in child support calculations, and courts do not assume that a new spouse is financially responsible for their stepchildren.

That said, there are exceptions and indirect impacts where remarriage can influence the amount or enforceability of child support.

When Remarriage May Impact Child Support

New Spouse Reduces Parent’s Expenses

While step-parent income is not counted directly, courts may consider that a remarried parent’s household expenses have decreased because the new spouse is contributing to housing, utilities, or general living costs.

For example:

• If the paying parent remarries and now pays less in rent or utilities due to the combined household income, the court may determine that more income is available to contribute toward child support.
• This scenario could trigger a child support recalculation if the receiving parent files for modification.

New Children From Remarriage

When a paying parent remarries and has more children, the court may consider their legal obligation to support all their children, including those from the new marriage. In these cases, the paying parent can request a modified support order to reflect this expanded obligation.

It’s important to remember that this request is not guaranteed to result in a lower amount. The court balances the needs of the original children with the parent’s full set of obligations.

Substantial Income Change Due to Remarriage

If the remarriage results in a significant life change—such as a job loss or relocation prompted by a new spouse’s career—this could indirectly affect child support. In such cases, the parent may file for a support modification, but must prove that the change is:

• Substantial
• Long-term
• Not made in bad faith to avoid paying support

Courts scrutinize claims of reduced income very closely, especially if they result from voluntary employment changes.

Can a Step-Parent’s Income Ever Be Counted?

As a rule, step-parent income support in Pennsylvania is not a factor in child support orders. However, in rare cases, Pennsylvania courts have considered a step-parent’s financial contribution indirectly, especially in high-conflict support disputes where:

• The biological parent is claiming inability to pay, but the household enjoys a significantly higher standard of living
• There is concern that the parent is concealing income or benefiting from the step-parent’s business

In these situations, courts may request discovery of the household’s financial information to assess whether a reduction or avoidance of child support is being made in bad faith.

Still, step-parents are not legally obligated to pay support for their spouse’s children from another relationship unless they have legally adopted the child.

What About the Receiving Parent’s Remarriage?

If the custodial or receiving parent remarries, it does not automatically impact child support. The new spouse’s income is generally irrelevant, unless:

• It significantly reduces the custodial parent’s personal expenses, increasing their disposable income
• The receiving parent voluntarily leaves a job, citing the new spouse’s income as a safety net
• The change affects health insurance, housing, or other child-related expenses

A paying parent could petition for a child support recalculation under these conditions, but they must show a material and substantial change in circumstances.

How to Modify a Child Support Order in Pennsylvania

If you believe remarriage has changed either parent’s financial situation to the extent that support should be increased or decreased, the next step is to petition the court for a modified support order.

Grounds for Modification

• Significant increase or decrease in income
• New children born to the paying parent
• Changes in custody or parenting time
• Change in the child’s financial needs
• Remarriage that alters household contributions

Steps For Filing

1. File a Petition to Modify with the Domestic Relations Section in your county
2. Provide documentation of the new financial situation
3. Attend a support conference (and potentially a court hearing)
4. Await the court’s decision

Enforcement of Child Support After Remarriage

A paying parent cannot avoid support simply by marrying someone new. If your ex has remarried and stopped paying child support, Pennsylvania courts enforce support orders through:

• Wage garnishment
• Seizure of tax refunds
• License suspension (driver’s, professional, or recreational)
• Contempt of court (which may result in jail time)

Reasons to Choose Our Firm

Navigating remarriage and child support in Pennsylvania requires a firm understanding of the law, strategic planning, and attention to detail.

At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., we offer:

• Over 30 years of family law experience
• Personalized strategies for support modifications or enforcement
• Support with calculating income, assessing household contributions, and protecting your child’s financial well-being
• Representation in family court and at support hearings

Whether you’re preparing to remarry or responding to your ex’s remarriage, we’ll help you understand your rights and obligations under Pennsylvania law.

Speak With Our Trusted Child Support Attorney in Montgomery County

If you’re facing a child support issue related to remarriage or financial change, it’s time to get the facts and find a strategy that works. Let the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., guide you through the process and help protect your family’s future.

Call us today at (610) 645-0100 for a confidential consultation. Our Montgomery County child support lawyer can answer your questions, review your support order, and explain your legal options for recalculation, enforcement, or modification.