My response:
A stepparent never has automatic rights under the law, like a bio-parent would. The only way a stepparent can obtain "rights" is when someone else ASKS for them; e.g., the bio-father, and to have those rights conferred to the stepparent by court order. Until that "rarity" occurs, a stepparent can only "go along for the ride."
Most stepparents cannot get such orders conferred upon them. There's usually an objecting bio-parent.
This is why I previously said, if you had read carefully:
"In all actuality, there are extremely very, very few instances that the law concerns a StepParent, and therefore, StepParents have little, to no, reason to post legal questions on sites such as this."
In 99.9% of the cases, my opinion on this subject is correct. With orders as you say you have, your situation is truly rare. There are exceptions to every rule.
But, again, a stepparent cannot, by law, automatically step into the shoes of a biological parent. No third person can.
And, my dear stepparent, no attorney is correct 100% of the time - - not even me. So, when you say that I'm not always right, that is the one correct statement you've made. However, after 21 plus years in the practice of law, you can pretty much bet the bank that I'm correct. And, I'm correct with you too - - in that stepparents, like yourself, eventually get an "attitude" which is one of the reasons why I won't bother with them. For the most part, there's no telling a StepParent that they have no legal entitlements. They feel that because of their marriage, that they should have "rights" - - they are wrong.
And, because of the "rarity" of a stepparent obtaining such orders, as you say you have, I'm not going to bother wasting my time on stepparents - - here, or in my office. If they come to my office, I insist that they keep their mouths shut.
You said:
"In light of that I am signing off." Good; don't let the door smack you on the way out.
IAAL
