Family Law: “What Every Stepparent Should Know about their Rights, Responsibilities, and Liabilities”

I enjoyed an excellent article by Peter Brynickzka in the American Bar Association’s Family Advocate publication.  (See link below)

http://sgcfamlaw.com/pdf/1sum13_bryniczka.pdf

Blended families are common, and stepparents often bond very deeply with their stepchildren. But, life can always throw us a curve or two, so it’s never a bad idea to know the law on the subject and understand some of the subtleties of stepparents’ rights, responsibilities, and liabilities. Although I encourage parents and stepparents to read the article in its entirety, I will outline below the main points.

• If a biological parent and a stepparent divorce, the stepparent has no right to continue to have a relationship with the stepchild, as painful as that may seem to the child and the stepparent. (No custody or visitation rights.)
• Stepparents are not liable for direct financial support of stepchildren. There may be instances of indirect support, however, depending on the situation. Contribution changes with marriage/divorce/remarriage may affect child support and alimony issues. Each state is different in how they handle these situations.
• Estate Planning changes for most second marriages. There are issues of direct and indirect inheritance for spouse and children of previous marriages. There are a number of choices to make depending on how you and your spouse feel about your assets and how you’d like them to be distributed. Therefore, it’s a good idea to consult your estate planning professional to outline your choices and assist you with your concerns.

ALL READERS:  This blog is not, nor shall it be deemed to be, legal advice or counsel. This blog does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader.  It is designed to encourage thoughtful consideration of important legal issues with the expectation that readers will seek professional advice from a licensed attorney.