When I got married seven years ago, the gal I married had two kids from a previous marriage. They were two and four at the time. We are now in the process of going through a divorce. Am I responsible for paying child support for her kids since we were married? She has made various such threats. I want nothing to do with her and just want to move on with my life.
Although I suspect you helped support the children during the marriage, you generally would have no further obligation to support them just by virtue of the fact that you were married to their mother. It appears clear from your question that you have absolutely no biological connection to the children.
The exception to this rule would be if you adopted them. If you did adopt the children, under the law, you would have an obligation to support the children as if you were the biological parent. You would assume the basic rights and obligations of the biological father. For instance, the children could also inherit from you.
Other states have imposed statutes that define the circumstances under which support obligations will be imposed on stepparents absent adoption. In Kansas, however, no such statutes exist and no authority appears to support the proposition that a stepparent could be responsible for child support under circumstances other than through legal adoption.
In conclusion, it sounds your soon-to-be ex-wife is simply making unfounded threats. Regardless, I wish you the best of luck as you navigate through what sounds like a quite difficult divorce.