No Rights For Step Dad

[kozbaug]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Kentucky

Today, I went with my wife to a meeting at her son's (my step son's) school. I was told that I could not participate, because I was not a legal guardian. So basically, I have the right to support him and parent him at home, but I don't have the right to be involved in his scholastic future?

They said they have to "Invite" the biological father to participate. My step son is 6 years old, the father hasn't seen him since he was 4 months old. He makes sporadic child support payments, but in over 5.5 years. has made no attempt to contact his son. Why does this jerk get rights and I get none. Besides his grandfather, I am the only stable man this child has ever known! How do I remedy this?!?

 

[I'mTheFather]

I've never heard of a school denying participation to a parent's companion for that reason. What kind of meeting was it? Was it the first one you've tried to attend?

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Kentucky

Today, I went with my wife to a meeting at her son's (my step son's) school. I was told that I could not participate, because I was not a legal guardian. So basically, I have the right to support him and parent him at home, but I don't have the right to be involved in his scholastic future?

They said they have to "Invite" the biological father to participate. My step son is 6 years old, the father hasn't seen him since he was 4 months old. He makes sporadic child support payments, but in over 5.5 years. has made no attempt to contact his son. Why does this jerk get rights and I get none. Besides his grandfather, I am the only stable man this child has ever known! How do I remedy this?!?

Stepparent adoption comes to mind.

This "jerk", by the way, is the father of your stepson.

 

[Eekamouse]

He's not your child. What is hard about that?

 

[Ohiogal]

Stepparent adoption comes to mind.

This "jerk", by the way, is the father of your stepson.

And the individual that impregnated his now-wife and the person the Constitution of the US grants rights to due to the fact that OP's wife gave birth to the child AND paternity was established. Bio-father is actually just father and does have legal rights by law. Stepparents are legal strangers.
And please tell us that your stepson KNOWS that you are NOT his father.

 

[LdiJ]

And the individual that impregnated his now-wife and the person the Constitution of the US grants rights to due to the fact that OP's wife gave birth to the child AND paternity was established. Bio-father is actually just father and does have legal rights by law. Stepparents are legal strangers.
And please tell us that your stepson KNOWS that you are NOT his father.

Am I the only one who things that its way out of line for a school to involve themselves in a family to the extent of "inviting" a parent back into the life of a child that the parent hasn't seen in 5 1/2 years? Its one thing for a judge, GAL or social worker to do something like that, its entirely another thing for a school to do it. I have a very serious problem with that one. Is that even something that a GAL would approve of?

 

[Proserpina]

Am I the only one who things that its way out of line for a school to involve themselves in a family to the extent of "inviting" a parent back into the life of a child that the parent hasn't seen in 5 1/2 years? Its one thing for a judge, GAL or social worker to do something like that, its entirely another thing for a school to do it. I have a very serious problem with that one. Is that even something that a GAL would approve of?

I wasn't reading it that way - I read it more as the school was trying to give an example: Look, we have to invite the biological father to take part. You're not him. We don't have to invite YOU at all.

 

[LdiJ]

I wasn't reading it that way - I read it more as the school was trying to give an example: Look, we have to invite the biological father to take part. You're not him. We don't have to invite YOU at all.

That makes sense. I just hope that was the way it was.

 

[Zigner]

I don't see how the school has ANY right to deny the PARENT from bringing a guest along to a meeting.

 

[Proserpina]

I don't see how the school has ANY right to deny the PARENT from bringing a guest along to a meeting.

Some schools are hopelessly and woefully uneducated with regards to legalities.

Sometimes we're not given the whole story.

Sometimes it's neither, and sometimes it's a bit of both.

 

[I'mTheFather]

I asked the questions in my first reply for a reason. There are situations that may require a legal parent to be invited to a meeting. (Zig, I'm sure you know what I mean.) There are also situations in which a person may be banned from attending a meeting.

Until OP comes back, we don't really know WHAT the situation is.

 

[Ohiogal]

I don't see how the school has ANY right to deny the PARENT from bringing a guest along to a meeting.

Depends on the policy of the school. The school does not have to grant anyone in the community access to the premises.

 

[Just Blue]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Kentucky

Today, I went with my wife to a meeting at her son's (my step son's) school. I was told that I could not participate, because I was not a legal guardian.

You are not

So basically, I have the right to support him and parent him at home,

Correction

.

You have the "right" to choose to parent and support.

but I don't have the right to be involved in his scholastic future?

Nope!

They said they have to "Invite" the biological father to participate. My step son is 6 years old, the father hasn't seen him since he was 4 months old. He makes sporadic child support payments, but in over 5.5 years. has made no attempt to contact his son. Why does this jerk get rights and I get none.

Because that little thing called the Constitution. Perhaps you have heard of this in KY??

Besides his grandfather, I am the only stable man this child has ever known! How do I remedy this?!?

Ask the mother and the FATHER if they are okay to with a Step-Parent Adoption.

 

[Antigone*]

Ask the mother and the FATHER if they are okay to with a Step-Parent Adoption.

Then when mom and dad divorce, HE can then officially pay support for his child.

 

[Zigner]

Depends on the policy of the school. The school does not have to grant anyone in the community access to the premises.

Depending on what the "meeting" is, that may not be correct. Of course, if this were an IEP meeting, I'm sure the OP would have said so...(that's where I was headed with this)