Families can come in all shapes and sizes and more and more children are growing up with step-parents.  I am a very proud step-parent to Tommy and Samantha whom I have a great relationship with. 

I am always mindful not to step on their mother’s toes and I am grateful that I have been able to share all of the important stages of their lives from young children starting secondary school, to leaving and attending university and to now securing employment, relationships and a foot on the property ladder.  I am very proud to be able to sponsor the England Lacrosse Team at this years World Championships in Israel and even prouder that my step-son, Tommy will be playing in the same.
Once upon a time step-parents were the villains of fairy tales but now it is more greatly acknowledged that Step-parents play a meaningful role in children’s lives. However, it is not always known what legal rights a step-parent has.
Parental Responsibility is all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child. Mothers obtain this automatically when a child is born and a father most commonly obtains this right if he is married to the mother at the time of the birth or is named on a child’s birth certificate.
Step-parents do not automatically obtain parental responsibility when they marry the child’s parent. This means that if the child was to have an accident and need medical care, the step-parent cannot provide consent for this.
Families often discover information when it is too late and it is always good to speak to a Solicitor and ensure that you are informed of your rights. Author, Julie Maguire – CEO Greens Solicitors Limited