How does bankruptcy affect child and spousal support? 4 Answers as of February 23, 2012

In most instances, child support and spousal maintenance are nondischargeable in bankruptcy.

Child support is non-dischargable in Bankruptcy so it will have no effect.

Several issues are presented in your question. (1) Under Washington state law, you have no statutory duty to contribute support for a child of a prior marriage unless that child has been adopted by you. Moreover, upon graduation from high school, the legal duty of support would terminate in any event. This does not diminish the fact that you (and the 18 year old) may feel a moral responsibility to do so. (2) The measure of child support in Washington is determined by a statutory formula. Do an on-line search to obtain more information re how to calculate your potential support by application of this formula. (3) An obligation to pay child support or spousal maintenance (alimony) cannot be eliminated in bankruptcy. In fact, in my experience, a bankruptcy actually increases the prospect that a court will award higher maintenance because the other debts will be discharged, freeing up money that wound otherwise have been necessary to pay the VISA bill.

Your bankruptcy makes it easier for you to pay support and maintenance. Google Washington child support to get a free calculator of your support. Maintenance is more complicated.