‘She called me a monster’: This Reddit user's ex-wife remarried, had more kids — then sought a 430% increase in child support to help her ‘struggling’ family. Is he right to say no?

Although the court denied her request twice — once before it reached a judge and another time in court — she continues her pursuit.

“She called me a monster and asked how I could live with myself knowing my children's other family are struggling and are drowning in financial difficulty,” he wrote on the Reddit message board

Was this Reddit user justified in refusing his ex-wife’s demands for increased child support, including support for her new husband’s children? Here are some things to consider.

Boundaries versus financial obligation

Establishing financial boundaries post-divorce can be a delicate but necessary evil — especially when the line between required support and secondary expenses becomes blurred. The Reddit user explained the additional requests his ex extended to her blended family — a responsibility he firmly believes shouldn’t fall on him.

“This happens even when our children are in my home. I always say no. I have told my ex that I am not responsible for supporting her other children and will never provide for them financially,” the user wrote.

Raising a child is a significant financial commitment, with the average cost projected at approximately $237,482 over 18 years, according to LendingTree. In 2021, U.S. parents received $20.2 billion in child support, averaging $441 per month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

So while the Reddit user notes that he is financially stable, he still has to provide for two children on a single income, recognizing the challenges of balancing his financial stability and the demands of raising two children.

Financial stability after divorce

In blended families, financial obligations after divorce can become complicated with expectations sometimes exceeding biological children.

Ros Bever is a family and divorce lawyer with the U.K. firm Irwin Mitchell. Although he’s overseas, the issues facing parents regarding child support are similar between the U.S. and the U.K.