# Can a mother ask for more CS if dad's parents are wealthy, but dad is not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 12, 2016, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317 "2016-10-12T08:31:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/1 "2016-10-12T08:31:39Z")
Per this story linked below Mark Hamill’s son got a woman pregnant who he was seeing. Are her child support options limited to the bio dad’s income or can she make an argument that he is more wealthy than his income shows because he is part of a wealthy family, and thus should pay more than just his stated income? [https://www.google.com/amp/nypost.com/2016/09/11/hamills-pressured-me-to-have-an-abortion-nathan-hamills-ex/amp/](https://www.google.com/amp/nypost.com/2016/09/11/hamills-pressured-me-to-have-an-abortion-nathan-hamills-ex/amp/) Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/2 "2016-10-12T12:30:24Z")
If the dad is under the age of majority (and not legally emancipated), or has some sort of severe medical/mental health disability that causes him to rely on his parents for guardianship/his sole financial support, yes. Otherwise no, and it would be utterly ridiculous to think differently. I imagine a case could be made where a father, wishing to shirk his responsibilities after an order was put in place, refused to get a job because his parents agreed to support him, and attempted to legally reduce his child support as a result- in which case the mother could argue in court that the dad is attempting to pull one over on the legal system and his earning power remains the same regardless of his attempt at shirking, but that’s radically different from asking for extra support just because the grandparents are well off. It’s a shame that the first grandchild has to be so wrapped up in public drama. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/3 "2016-10-12T12:43:21Z")
**astro** , how could you leave this brilliant headline out of your post? > [@NYPost Headline](#): > > Luke Skywalker wants me to ‘abort my baby,’ says ex-porn star. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/4 "2016-10-12T15:58:24Z")
If the son was an adult at the time, then Mark Hamill is no more responsible for paying than you or I. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/5 "2016-10-12T16:04:10Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > If the dad is under the age of majority (and not legally emancipated), or has some sort of severe medical/mental health disability that causes him to rely on his parents for guardianship/his sole financial support, yes. Otherwise no, and it would be utterly ridiculous to think differently. > > I imagine a case could be made where a father, wishing to shirk his responsibilities after an order was put in place, refused to get a job because his parents agreed to support him, and attempted to legally reduce his child support as a result- in which case the mother could argue in court that the dad is attempting to pull one over on the legal system and his earning power remains the same regardless of his attempt at shirking, but that’s radically different from asking for extra support just because the grandparents are well off. > > It’s a shame that the first grandchild has to be so wrapped up in public drama. This, and likewise, an NCP is not off the hook just because the CP is from a wealthy family, whether s/he has some of that money or not. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/6 "2016-10-12T16:07:46Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > If the dad is under the age of majority (and not legally emancipated), or has some sort of severe medical/mental health disability that causes him to rely on his parents for guardianship/his sole financial support, yes. Having sex with a person such as this might cause other legal issues. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/7 "2016-10-12T22:00:04Z")
Ask? Yes. Get? Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/8 "2016-10-12T22:04:09Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Having sex with a person such as this might cause other legal issues. Most states have an age of consent that is lower than 18 so it doesn’t necessarily mean there would be legal problems. In my state being a parent automatically means you are emancipated and I’m sure many other states are similar. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/9 "2016-10-12T22:41:22Z")
I wonder just how much of that sweet \*Star Wars \*money old Mark still has sitting around? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/10 "2016-10-12T23:08:42Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > **astro** , how could you leave this brilliant headline out of your post? That is a beauty, and the article lives up to the promise: > [@](#): > > Luke . . . I am your grandchild. > > A baby-mama drama is unfolding in Mark Hamill’s family as a former porn actress prepares to give birth to Luke Skywalker’s first grandchild. > > \ > > She said she met the actor when she stayed with the family in London this spring while the next “Star Wars” installment was being filmed. He told her his son, Nathan, 37, “is not ready to be a father,” > > \ > > “If you keep it, we won’t hang out anymore,” said Nathan, according to a text message Chen shared with The Post. > > She suspects Mark and Nathan Hamill fear she is gold-digging for the family’s Jabba the Hutt-sized assets. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/11 "2016-10-12T23:14:12Z")
Former porn actress? “Not ready to be a father” at 37? This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/12 "2016-10-12T23:40:53Z")
Why wouldn’t the grandparents want to help raise their grandkid? They don’t need no stinkin’ court order. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/13 "2016-10-12T23:55:32Z")
First, NY Post, so need a heaping spoonful of grains of salt. Second, I won’t Google her at work but I seem to notice that the Post, Daily Mail, et al. set their “porn star” bar pretty low. > [@muldoonthief](#): > > **astro** , how could you leave this brilliant headline out of your post? [I don’t know, I wouldn’t trust Mark to do an abortion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9kk1dhEFzU&t=19). > [@Gatopescado](#): > > I wonder just how much of that sweet \*Star Wars \*money old Mark still has sitting around? He’s still working as a pretty prominent voice actor. Plus his walk on in TFA [apparently netted low seven figures](http://www.egotastic.com/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-salaries/) for a few seconds of footage. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/14 "2016-10-12T23:56:03Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Former porn actress? > > “Not ready to be a father” at 37? > > This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. The fact that the 37 year old still lives at home with mum and dad would be a minor concern too. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/15 "2016-10-13T05:29:25Z")
It is my understanding that in some states, any money or other gifts that the non-custodial parent routinely received and relied upon would be counted, so if the grandparents are giving lots of funds to dad, that is part of dad’s income too. Same if the grandparents are routinely making dad’s car payments or providing a rent-free place to live–the dollar value of the rent is income even if it is in-kind or not paid directly to dad… ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/16 "2016-10-13T06:20:10Z")
I don’t know the details of child support legislation in the US, but it makes sense that the level of maintenance assessed against the non-custodial parent should take account of all of that parent’s circumstances, so if he does in fact receive substantial transfers from wealthy and indulgent relatives which sustain his lifestyle, and which would sustain the lifestyle of his child were the child to reside with him, then that should be taken into account in assessing the level of maintenance that he is to pay. This would still be a maintenance order against him, though, and not against those transferring money to him. If, in response to the maintenance order (or indeed for any other reason) his relatives stop transferring money to him, he can apply to have the order varied on the basis that his circumstances have materially altered. ---
**Author:** ![blue\_infinity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_infinity/32/2817_2.png) [@blue\_infinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_infinity)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/17 "2016-10-13T06:54:30Z")
Darth Maury: Luke Skywalker’s son, you are the father! LSS: NOOOOOOOO! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/18 "2016-10-13T07:42:09Z")
Taking this case as sui generis, I suppose you could make an argument that if he has never lived on his own, and his parents support him (if they claim him as a dependent because he has no form of income, that would help), they are de facto guardians, even though he has never been judged incompetent, and they should therefore support his child. I don’t know how far that argument will get her. It sounds like the Skywalker family wants nothing to do with her, otherwise I might speculate that they’d do something like set up a trust for the kid. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/19 "2016-10-13T07:51:46Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I wonder just how much of that sweet \*Star Wars \*money old Mark still has sitting around? > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > He’s still working as a pretty prominent voice actor. Plus his walk on in TFA [apparently netted low seven figures](http://www.egotastic.com/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-salaries/) for a few seconds of footage. I thought I saw a story a few years ago claiming he was broke. Some British scandal rag. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317/20 "2016-10-13T08:11:29Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Taking this case as sui generis, I suppose you could make an argument that if he has never lived on his own, and his parents support him (if they claim him as a dependent because he has no form of income, that would help), they are de facto guardians, even though he has never been judged incompetent, and they should therefore support his child. > > I don’t know how far that argument will get her. It sounds like the Skywalker family wants nothing to do with her, otherwise I might speculate that they’d do something like set up a trust for the kid. Nothing in the NY Post article suggests that she has asked the Hamill parents for money, or even that she has asked the son for money; just that they suspect she’s on a gold-digging expedition. The Post’s source for the story is clearly the woman herself, and of course it’s possible that she hasn’t told them details that might not reflect well on her. It’s equally possible, thought, that she hasn’t sought any money from the parents. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-mother-ask-for-more-cs-if-dads-parents-are-wealthy-but-dad-is-not/768317.md?page=2)