Legal Assistance with Child Support and Visitation Rights

Questioner

My partner X has two children (Y and Z) from a previous relationship. Y visits her biological father every two weeks. Z has never been acknowledged by his father. Her ex has never paid a cent in child support (nothing has ever been set by a judge either), but he's making more and more demands and threatening with lawyers and lawsuits, and that he's going to make sure Y is taken away from us. But what exactly are our (X) rights, because I have to watch all of this helplessly? Does he have to pay child support, and does he have any right to visitation if he refuses? Thanks in advance.

Questioner

I've anonymized all names. That's the policy on this site. The ex-partner has the right to contact with the children (both of them). Even if the marriage isn't acknowledged, but there's still a close personal bond (family life), the right to contact exists. Whether contact is in the best interest of both children is another matter. If the ex-partner is the biological father of both children, he must pay child support. It's best for you (or at least your partner) to arrange this through a lawyer (so please contact me directly via the direct contact button). Whether he can afford it is a second point. The ex-partner's threat to take one of the children away doesn't seem very promising, but it's a matter of assessing the case in detail. Regarding actual contact if he doesn't pay child support, it's clear: in principle, he is entitled to it (child support isn't a "look and listen" payment).