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What do stepparent rights entail? If you're wondering what your (or your spouse's) legal rights are, find everything you need to know with this overview.
Below are some of the general rights step-parents do and don’t possess in a joint custody arrangement: Step-parents can't consent to medical treatment for their step-children. If an emergency occurs or a child needs medical attention, a step-parent can take them to the hospital.
Learn about step-parent rights & privileges when it comes to things like legal responsibility, financial obligations, or making decisions for stepchildren.
As a stepparent, the best way to protect your legal right to maintain a relationship with a stepchild is through legal adoption. In the event of a death or divorce, you would then be recognized as the children’s legal parent.
In most states, it’s an uphill battle for stepparents to gain any custody rights, especially when both parents are able and involved in their children’s lives. However, some states have enacted laws that allow for step-parent visitation.
Step-parents can access school records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). As long as the child resides in the step-parent’s home some of the time, step-parents in joint custody arrangements can access school records or attend school functions with consent from their spouse.
It is important to note that stepparents do not automatically become legal guardians of their stepchildren. In this blog, the family law attorneys at McKinley Irvin explain a stepparent’s options for obtaining parental rights.