When your partner has children from a previous relationship and you decide to get married, it’s important to understand the role you will assume in their family dynamic. Unfortunately, many stepparents are unsure of what rights, if any, they will have when marrying a single parent. If you’re unsure about these matters, you’ll want to keep reading to learn more and discover why it may be in your best interest to connect with New Jersey family law attorneys to help you with these difficult issues.
In New Jersey, when someone gets married to a person with children, they become a stepparent. It’s imperative to understand your legal rights. Typically, unless you legally adopt your spouse’s child, you have no legal rights as a parent or guardian. As such, you cannot authorize medical treatment, make decisions regarding schooling, or get involved in custody matters.
While you can attend doctor’s appointments or school meetings, you cannot make or authorize any decisions unless permission has been granted from the child’s biological parents.
In the event you adopt the child, you will assume all legal rights and responsibilities for the child. However, this is an incredibly complicated process, as the other biological parent will need to relinquish their parental rights to the child, which is typically not granted by the courts unless they are found unfit.
It’s important to understand, however, that if you and your spouse divorce, you may be able to petition the court to receive visitation rights. While the courts almost never grant stepparents with no legal rights custody, if you can prove it’s in the best interest of the child, you may be able to receive limited visitation rights.
When you and your spouse marry and you assume an active role in their child’s life, it may be in your best interest to sit down with your spouse and their ex to discuss parenting styles. This allows you to ensure you are all on the same page regarding expectations, discipline, routines, and chores for the child. Not only does this help reduce conflict between you and your spouse’s ex, as you will be able to transition smoothly into the child’s life, but it also helps the child. When their parental figures are unified, it helps create consistency and routine, which is beneficial for their happiness and well-being.
Unfortunately, becoming a stepparent is not always easy, and you may encounter issues during this process. As such, connecting with an attorney from Haber Silver Russonillo & Dunn is imperative. Our firm understands how complex these issues can be, which is why we are dedicated to assisting you in any way possible. Connect with us today to learn how we can fight for you during these challenging matters.
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