Can Step Parents Be Awarded Custody? | Friendship Heights Attorney

Video Overview

In some cases, a step-parent could potentially be awarded custody, though they do not have the same legal rights as a biological parent or a parent who has adopted the child. When a child is adopted, the adoptive parent gains the same legal standing and rights as if the child were their biological child. For step-parents, the situation typically falls under the considerations for third-party custody or visitation requests. A step-parent can petition the court as a third party, but in most cases, they would face a different evidentiary burden. While it is possible, it tends to be more complex unless the biological parent consents.