Parent/Step-Parent Boundaries

[J Greenhalgh]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? My State is Arizona. My question is this; How does a step-parent have a right to sign documents of their step children as the parent/legal guardian for schools, doctor's offices and the like and be accepted by those entities as such and be bound by a step-parents signature? I have joint legal custody of my two children and a step-parent has been acting as 'mother' on all their paper work for the above referenced documents, without my knowledge. Can I say enough is enough and have legal format to back that with such as an ARS code or common knowledge within the legal field to request that biological father step up to the plate and take the responsibility when I am not present for such signatures? I actually had a doctor's office call the step-parent and ask for her consent to allow my presence at the office while I was attending the appointment with my child, because they thought that the step was the biological parent due to paperwork signed in this manner. Please help me understand what 'stand' I must make for this. My two children do not like this person in their life and are now 15 and 13 years old.

J in AZ

[Ohiogal]

Originally Posted by J Greenhalgh

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? My State is Arizona. My question is this; How does a step-parent have a right to sign documents of their step children as the parent/legal guardian for schools, doctor's offices and the like and be accepted by those entities as such and be bound by a step-parents signature? I have joint legal custody of my two children and a step-parent has been acting as 'mother' on all their paper work for the above referenced documents, without my knowledge. Can I say enough is enough and have legal format to back that with such as an ARS code or common knowledge within the legal field to request that biological father step up to the plate and take the responsibility when I am not present for such signatures? I actually had a doctor's office call the step-parent and ask for her consent to allow my presence at the office while I was attending the appointment with my child, because they thought that the step was the biological parent due to paperwork signed in this manner. Please help me understand what 'stand' I must make for this. My two children do not like this person in their life and are now 15 and 13 years old.

J in AZ

You can stop it unless dad the step a limited POA to do so. And dad is dad NOT biological father. You need to present the court order showing custody to the schools and doctors to let them know that YOU are the parent and this other intruder has NO RIGHTS.