Best answer
Step parents legal rights over a child that is not theirs biologically depends on the legal proceeding and the biological parents involvement. In general,step parents haveno legal rightsover a non-biological child unless they have legal custody.
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What rights do step parents have in the US?
Step-parents seek the same rights and protections within the legal system to safeguard their relationships with their children, although a birth relationship or blood line does not exist. Today, nearly half the states (23) have enacted laws to authorize step-parent visitation.
Who has parental responsibility of a step child?
The people with parental responsibility for the child are normally the child鈥檚 mother and the child鈥檚 biological father providing he has met certain criteria; A court makes a parental responsibility order on the application to court by a step parent.
When are you a step-parent?
According to the Family Law Act 1975, you鈥檙e a step-parent if you: are not a biological parent of the child are or were married to, or a de facto partner of, one of the child鈥檚 biological parents
Can a step parent get custody of a stepchild?
As a step-parent, you don鈥檛 automatically have legal parental responsibility for your stepchild. You can get parental responsibility for your stepchild through a parenting order or adoption. The custody rights of your stepchild depend on what鈥檚 in your stepchild鈥檚 best interests.