stepparent rights

georgia - what rights do stepparents have regarding the children (ex. dealing with school, doctor, etc.) including having access via telephone and in person? Does marriage to father give stepmom same rights?

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally posted by dking36
georgia - what rights do stepparents have regarding the children (ex. dealing with school, doctor, etc.) including having access via telephone and in person? Does marriage to father give stepmom same rights?

My response:

With the exception of "direction" of the children WITHIN the confines of the house itself, stepparents have no other rights concerning the upbringing of their mate's children.

That's why they're called stepparents . . . they need to "step" back and stop interfering with other people's children. Not even with the biological parent's permission.

A lot of stepparents "think", by virtue of their marriage, they have some "right" to rear stepchildren outside of the family home; i.e., go to the school, the doctor, etc. Once that child crosses the threshold to the outside, or once that child receives or makes a call "to the outside", the stepparent has no right to do anything, and to do anything is called "interference" with custody or visitation. And that's actionable by the other parent.

Don't do it.

IAAL