Section 66D — Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)

Principles—when step‑parents have a duty to maintain

(1) The step‑parent of a child has, subject to this Division, the duty of maintaining a child if, and only if, a court, by order under section 66M, determines that it is proper for the step‑parent to have that duty.

(2) Any duty of a step‑parent to maintain a step‑child:

(a) is a secondary duty subject to the primary duty of the parents of the child to maintain the child; and

(b) does not derogate from the primary duty of the parents to maintain the child.

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 May 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.

Related sections

s 66A — What this Division does
s 66B — Objects
s 66C — Principles—parents have primary duty to maintain
s 66E — Child maintenance order not to be made etc. if application for administrative assessment of child support could be made
s 66F — Who may apply for a child maintenance order
s 66G — Court’s power to make child maintenance order

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