step-parent's rights

[DANNON]

as a step-parent and my husband has sole physical custody and joint legal custody. what if any rights do i have? i would like to have at least some rights to them. my husband is sick and if anything were to happen to him he wants the kids to go to me. is that posible? where would we start?
please help
thank you

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

As a stepparent, you have no rights to the children. All because you happen to be married to a man who has children, doesn't confer any rights to you with regard to the children. You have as much rights to those children as I do - - and that's none.

The absolute only way that this could change is if the bio-mother were to allow you to adopt her children. If your husband is ill, and should pass away, and absent an official adoption, the children immediately go to the bio-mom - - even if he puts something in his Will. End of story.

Good luck to you.

IAAL

 

[DANNON]

help

if that is the case and the bm does not want them to stay with her but still refuses to give up her rights to the kids where do they go? could we make arangements for them to go to there grandparents.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Re: help

if that is the case and the bm does not want them to stay with her but still refuses to give up her rights to the kids where do they go? could we make arangements for them to go to there grandparents.

My response:

Okay, I assume you're still talking about the "worst case scenario" - - that is, in the event of your husband's death.

Then, in that case, let me reiterate - - you have no rights to make any kind of "arrangements". If the bio-mom can't or won't take the children, then the decision belongs to her and / or the courts, as to where the children go.

If your husband is alive, and wants to "transfer" the children, that's a decision between him and the bio-mom. You have no right to give any sort of input on the issue. Let me give you a "worst case scenario" : If Dad doesn't want them, and the bio-mom doesn't want them, they either become "wards of the State" or the court will allow any willing and qualified blood relative to take the children.

I'm sorry. I wish I had better news for you.

IAAL