StepMom is Mother on Medical Records

[Zephyr]

but that was a year and a half ago and mom has custody back now

 

[momofrose]

Apparently there is a lot of baggage..BUT the fact remains that Step parents have no legal rights to sign medical paperwork, or any other legal forms as the child's parent. (at least that is what I was told my my atty.)

D

 

[stealth2]

This is not a clear cut issue.
https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?t=214126

Dunno.... This seemed pretty clear to me:

THAT is why I now have CUSTODY of my child. Because the JUDGE agreed that STEPMOM was trying to replace ME.

 

[MomTryin2Improv]

This is not a clear cut issue.
https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?t=214126

Here we go again, rmet. No matter how many times you dredge up my past, the fact remains that I have risen above the challenges that I have faced. I have made terrible mistakes, probably worse than most, but the judge has seen that I have changed my life and now represent a healthier place for my child to be.

Can you answer my questions, or are you just staking your claim as the morality police, again?

 

[thetsgtswife]

stepmoms (stepparents in general!) are NOT to be signing these forms at all. The parent or legal guardian is. A stepparent is NOT a legal guardian. A stepparent has NO legal right to secure medical care/treatment for the children. A stepparent is a legal stranger. A stepparent who does not know this is overstepping their bounds and interfering with the parent child relationship (which is a LEGAL relationship by the way).
As for why can't take daughter by herself, she has just stated that she is not informed of the appointments until after the fact. And parents are not supposed to schedule appointments for their children on the other parent's time.
Before you answer here or interject your less than accurate opinions about anything legal, do what BB said. LISTEN AND LEARN.
You have no right in your stepchild's life. YOu are a legal stranger. The issue is stepparents are not to be presenting themselves as the legal guardian/parent of their stepchild. They are not.

All true with one exception that I personally know to be true. If your spouse is in the military and they are the sole Custodian of the child they can leave POA'S giving the SP the right to seek and make medical decesions especailly if there is an extreme distance between custodial parent and non-custodial parent.

My husband was on a year remote I kept the kids in my care through the course of the year and I had to take care of all DOC appoointments to include ER trips for a skateboarding incident and a biking incident that resulted in broken bones. I called mom every time and she was grateful that I was able to seek care for my ss as most parents should be.

Its not always cut and dry furthermore No matter how many times I express I am SM I am always refered to as mom on paperwork. Maybe its because we are on base who knows but I dont lie to them and give false pretenses.

SO the point of this post is that there are certain situations that a SP can seek medical care and sign Docs and even if you tell them I am the SP it doesnt mean they will put that in the childs records.

TSGTSWIFE

 

[MomTryin2Improv]

I appreciate your input, Sgtswife....and I hope that it is true in my case. I understand what the POA and the distance can do to the situation, and I am grateful that SM took care of my daughter well.

You are correct, it isn't cut and dry.

 

[casa]

Not sure about Colorado or Alaska...but in CA courts, a step-parent would just get shredded for these types of manuevers. And OP is correct, MOST ANY courts DO NOT like step-parents interfering with the rights of the parents.

OP: Change all paperwork now that you have custody. Save copies of any/all documents where step mom signed her name as "mom" or any paperwork where her name is designated as "mom". You should save everything anyway.

PS Glad your case worked out...and yes, many parents have had trying times and issues, and it IS commendable that you have worked through yours in order to be a better parent. What people forget is that often, when one parent has flaws, the other parent's flaws are overlooked. A wise judge once said in court "There is NO perfect parent- and any parent who says they are "Better" than the other parent will certainly not get preference in my court room".

 

[MomTryin2Improv]

Not sure about Colorado or Alaska...but in CA courts, a step-parent would just get shredded for these types of manuevers. And OP is correct, MOST ANY courts DO NOT like step-parents interfering with the rights of the parents.

OP: Change all paperwork now that you have custody. Save copies of any/all documents where step mom signed her name as "mom" or any paperwork where her name is designated as "mom". You should save everything anyway.

PS Glad your case worked out...and yes, many parents have had trying times and issues, and it IS commendable that you have worked through yours in order to be a better parent. What people forget is that often, when one parent has flaws, the other parent's flaws are overlooked. A wise judge once said in court "There is NO perfect parent- and any parent who says they are "Better" than the other parent will certainly not get preference in my court room".

Thanks, Casa. I appreciate that you understand that everyone has their faults. I know that there is always room for improvement still.

To be perfectly honest, comments like the ones that RMET always makes only serve to make me realize how well I am now doing.

 

[casa]

Thanks, Casa. I appreciate that you understand that everyone has their faults. I know that there is always room for improvement still.

To be perfectly honest, comments like the ones that RMET always makes only serve to make me realize how well I am now doing.

You're Welcome.

I will say in rmet's defense...that she is not INcorrect necessarily...but her viewpoints are more Scientific (that's the Forensic influence). And it IS true that many parents who've lost custody for valid reasons alllll come back saying it's changed, or that it was the other parent's fault, etc. etc. We hear it all. Everyday. I'm not even saying I believe your story in totality~ but I believe that if it IS true, your child deserves the assistance ...and if it's not true, another poster may Search this post out and get assistance.

 

[abstract99]

Is this really that big of a deal? She was obviously informed of the doctors visit because she has the paperwork. There is no step-mom box on the doctors paperwork. When my wife provided insurance for her step-kids through the military she took the kids to all of their doctors appointments because it was convenient. I personally feel that OP is taking this a lil too far beacuse she isn't even sure if this is a messup on the doctors part. Also when she took the kids there was no space for her to sign as step-mom. The kids know that she is the step-mom, the doctor knows that she is the step-mom because it is in their file like that and chances are pretty good that this is how it is in this case. I think op should call the docs first and see what it going on.

My wife would actually sit there and every time the doctor said mom she would correct with step-mom and yet our paperwork still came back as her being the mom. When the ex tried to bring this to court we brought the kids med files that showed her as step-mom.

 

[NoDiggety]

All true with one exception that I personally know to be true. If your spouse is in the military and they are the sole Custodian of the child they can leave POA'S giving the SP the right to seek and make medical decesions especailly if there is an extreme distance between custodial parent and non-custodial parent.

My husband was on a year remote I kept the kids in my care through the course of the year and I had to take care of all DOC appoointments to include ER trips for a skateboarding incident and a biking incident that resulted in broken bones. I called mom every time and she was grateful that I was able to seek care for my ss as most parents should be.

Its not always cut and dry furthermore No matter how many times I express I am SM I am always refered to as mom on paperwork. Maybe its because we are on base who knows but I dont lie to them and give false pretenses.

SO the point of this post is that there are certain situations that a SP can seek medical care and sign Docs and even if you tell them I am the SP it doesnt mean they will put that in the childs records.

TSGTSWIFE

And this is a situation that does NOT apply to the OP, so who cares? IF it did, it would've been stated (or so we hope) at the forefront. What OG stated is correct, outside of POA's and other language in specific orders.

 

[MomTryin2Improv]

Thanks for the Input

Thanks for the input, all. I think this is done.

I will keep copies of everything, as I always do. I'm hoping there is never a need to use ANYTHING ever again, as the ex and I are somewhat getting along, but I will be prepared in case there is.

 

[Ohiogal]

All true with one exception that I personally know to be true. If your spouse is in the military and they are the sole Custodian of the child they can leave POA'S giving the SP the right to seek and make medical decesions especailly if there is an extreme distance between custodial parent and non-custodial parent.

My husband was on a year remote I kept the kids in my care through the course of the year and I had to take care of all DOC appoointments to include ER trips for a skateboarding incident and a biking incident that resulted in broken bones. I called mom every time and she was grateful that I was able to seek care for my ss as most parents should be.

Its not always cut and dry furthermore No matter how many times I express I am SM I am always refered to as mom on paperwork. Maybe its because we are on base who knows but I dont lie to them and give false pretenses.

SO the point of this post is that there are certain situations that a SP can seek medical care and sign Docs and even if you tell them I am the SP it doesnt mean they will put that in the childs records.

TSGTSWIFE

That exception however has NOTHING to do with it being a stepparent. It has to do with the fact that the legal guardian gave a POA to enable that to happen. It is the POA that gives the power and NOT the relationship. That is the difference. I agree with what you are saying but a POA can give pretty much anyone the right to get medical care and such. So it is not a stepparent exception.