Step Parents' Rights
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Pennsylvania Step Parents' Rights Attorneys
Our family law attorneys
enjoy helping families welcome new members through the Pennsylvania
adoption process. A step parent adoption is desirable when a child
resides with a biological parent who has married a person who is not the
child's biological parent, but who wants to adopt the child.
Frequently, step parent adoptions occur with the consent of both
biological parents. Sometimes, however, step parent adoptions are
complicated and are the subject of intense litigation requiring an
involuntary termination of parental rights. Whether consensual or not,
our law firm can provide you with representation in any Pennsylvania
step parent adoption case.
Custody Rights of Pennsylvania Stepparents
Stepparents may have the right to sue a custodial parent for partial custody or visitation of the custodial parent's minor children. This generally occurs when the stepparent and custodial parent have resided together and assumed the joint role of supporting and caring for the custodial parent's minor children. If the custodial parent denies access to the stepchildren, a stepparent can file a complaint for partial custody or visitation of the stepchildren. In limited circumstances, if the stepparent's spouse was the custodial parent and dies, the stepparent may be able to obtain a primary custody order of the custodial parent's minor children even if there is a surviving biological parent or other blood relatives.
PA Support Obligations of Pennsylvania Step-parents
Pennsylvania step-parents are not liable for the support of their minor stepchildren except in very limited and rare circumstances. Furthermore, a step-parent's income is not a factor in determining the amount of support that a parent will pay or a parent will receive under Pennsylvania's child support order although the income of a step-parent may be considered as a factor on whether a court should grant a downward deviation from the Pennsylvania support guidelines.
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Custody Rights of Pennsylvania Stepparents
Stepparents may have the right to sue a custodial parent for partial custody or visitation of the custodial parent's minor children. This generally occurs when the stepparent and custodial parent have resided together and assumed the joint role of supporting and caring for the custodial parent's minor children. If the custodial parent denies access to the stepchildren, a stepparent can file a complaint for partial custody or visitation of the stepchildren. In limited circumstances, if the stepparent's spouse was the custodial parent and dies, the stepparent may be able to obtain a primary custody order of the custodial parent's minor children even if there is a surviving biological parent or other blood relatives.
PA Support Obligations of Pennsylvania Step-parents
Pennsylvania step-parents are not liable for the support of their minor stepchildren except in very limited and rare circumstances. Furthermore, a step-parent's income is not a factor in determining the amount of support that a parent will pay or a parent will receive under Pennsylvania's child support order although the income of a step-parent may be considered as a factor on whether a court should grant a downward deviation from the Pennsylvania support guidelines.
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513 Sarah Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
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(570) 421-1406 - Tel.
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(570) 421-1407 - Fax
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