Abstract
Both the research and the clinical literature indicate that over time stepparents and stepchildren may develop emotional attachments similar to their biological counterparts. Nevertheless, stepparents are legal strangers to stepchildren - the relationship is not protected by law during marriage or following marital dissolution. There are some legal avenues by which stepparents may obtain parenting rights or be required to provide financial support for a stepchild following divorce. The legal process encountered by stepparents regarding custody, access, and child support are elucidated here, in addition to a discussion of policy recommendations and practical implications.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 301-307 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Family Relations |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2002 |
Keywords
- Child support
- Custody
- Family law
- Stepfamilies
- Visitation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)