Child Support for HER child, upon divorce

[MrPlum]

I'm fairly sure the answer is no but I am curious...

There must be quite a few foreign men who marry a Thai and raise their children, without actually adopting them. Does the husband have any liability, as far as child support is concerned, should they divorce? Could the wife apply for a Court Order on the basis that the husband has been acting as the 'father', even though he is not the biological father?

[Big Boy]

It seems a very strange question to me. Surely, if such a support ruling existed, it should fall to the biological father.

[MrPlum]

It seems a very strange question to me. Surely, if such a support ruling existed, it should fall to the biological father.

Yes. The CSA go after the biological father in the UK but this is Thailand and...

I suppose part of the prompting for the question is the situation where if there is a road traffic accident in some parts of Asia, the police will look to the nearest 'falang' to pay.

[Big Boy]

I actually doubt any sort of child support is enforced for Thais, but I stand to be corrected. Therefore, if it exists for Farang, it must be some sort of scam.

[Big Boy]

Thinking about this further, I've known quite a Farangs who brought their wife's children to live in the UK. As part of the process, the biological father has had to be hunted down to give his consent - not a chore if he was already paying support you would think. In most cases, when the biological father has been found, he tries to sell the child to the Farang (or at least demands a substantial fee for putting pen to paper).

[ste860]

im pretty sure the courts can make a claim for support ,but only if you are the biological father ,it would be pretty pointless going through this process if the father was thai

[johnnyk]

Can't really imagine Isaan farm girls, or any girl not hi-so, getting on to lawyers and courts in an attempt to force child support from a falang. Meanwhile, deep in the jungle Somchai takes another pull of lao khow....

[hhfarang]

When I married my wife she had a 7 year old daughter. I took her in and treated her and raised her as if she were my own without formal adoption. She is 24 now, married to an American Marine who served in Afghanistan, has her U.S. citizenship and earns more money (on her own) than I do by my pensions. I'm very proud of her and treat and consider her the same as if she was from my own blood and she thinks of me as her father.

I spent a lot of money and time raising her and she turned out to be a very responsible adult so it really doesn't matter if she came from my sperm or not, she is MY daughter.

[kendo]

When I married my wife she had a 7 year old daughter. I took her in and treated her and raised her as if she were my own without formal adoption. She is 24 now, married to an American Marine who served in Afghanistan, has her U.S. citizenship and earns more money (on her own) than I do by my pensions. I'm very proud of her and treat and consider her the same as if she was from my own blood and she thinks of me as her father.

I spent a lot of money and time raising her and she turned out to be a very responsible adult so it really doesn't matter if she came from my sperm or not, she is MY daughter.

Good man I really respect that!

Kendo.

[kendo]

I'm fairly sure the answer is no but I am curious...

There must be quite a few foreign men who marry a Thai and raise their children, without actually adopting them. Does the husband have any liability, as far as child support is concerned, should they divorce? Could the wife apply for a Court Order on the basis that the husband has been acting as the 'father', even though he is not the biological father?

In the UK the answer is yes, you support a child even not biologically yours over a long period of time you can be liable for future support, just like you're pension is now classed as a marital asset over here, built up over many years of work or service they will take that into account just as much as a woman missing out on a carrier and loss of potential earnings over many years.
Mr Plum it's a very big melting pot that can easily go against the man.

Kendo.

[sargeant]

I think ones marital status would be the first issue ie if you are NOT legally married there cannot be a DIVORCE
Also if the child is NOT legally adopted by the farang i do NOT see a case to be made and certainly not if there is no marriage and no adoption
I Do not think the mother could have an argument that the farang in this case should pay if she has not taken action against the biological father or he is NOT paying
I also think no court would find in her favour as it would open a real can of worms (as in set a precedent) as to the biological fathers responsibility in Thai on Thai cases.

[Big Boy]

When I married my wife she had a 7 year old daughter. I took her in and treated her and raised her as if she were my own without formal adoption. She is 24 now, married to an American Marine who served in Afghanistan, has her U.S. citizenship and earns more money (on her own) than I do by my pensions. I'm very proud of her and treat and consider her the same as if she was from my own blood and she thinks of me as her father.

I spent a lot of money and time raising her and she turned out to be a very responsible adult so it really doesn't matter if she came from my sperm or not, she is MY daughter.

OK, been there, done that, but the question is, "Had your relationship with your wife ended when the girl was 12, would you have been liable to pay child support?"

[MrPlum]

Mr Plum it's a very big melting pot that can easily go against the man.

Yes. I recall service pension rules stating that 'substantial relationships' are recognized by the pensions agency when looking at entitlements. With many couples deciding not to marry, I would anticipate, if not now, then in the future, court judgements putting the child's best interests first and everything else secondary. The State does not wish to pick up the tab.

This is just speculation. I wonder what the law actually says?

[sargeant]

Kendo

In the UK the answer is yes, you support a child even not biologically yours over a long period of time you can be liable for future support

yes i agree IN THE UK
I would also add i think to take the child to the UK one has to sign that they have no recourse to public funds
Having been through a British divorce i have met the most venomous of all reptiles a 4 eyed 1 titted huge hipped Hairy chested female divorce lawyer. It was simply a case of hand my severed testicles to the court usher on my way out
I answered as to Thailand because they are totally different in attitude and law to each country

edited to add red letters which i forgot but remembered when the shiver went down my spine

[sand_dancer]

Mr Plum

Yes. I recall service pension rules stating that 'substantial relationships' are recognized by the pensions agency when looking at entitlements. With many couples deciding not to marry, I would anticipate, if not now, then in the future, court judgements putting the child's best interests first and everything else secondary. The State does not wish to pick up the tab.

This is just speculation. I wonder what the law actually says?

If you mean UK Law.....

You will find that the answer is...... If you have been co-habitating for a period of 5 years or over..... then for the purpose of seperation / split..... You are classified as common law husband and wife..... and assets will be divided in accordance with matrimonial law......

In the event that child / children are involved...... If the biological father has not been paying child support for that child / children..... It will be taken into account that you have been providing for them..... And that will also be taken into account for the division of assets etc......

As for Thai law..... I have no idea...... But I would assume that whatever rules / laws that they may have.... Will only be in favour of the Thai.....