PA Step parent Rights including Adoption & Custody

Pennsylvania Step parent Adoption Rights

Our Pittsburgh law firm  enjoys helping families welcome new members through the Pennsylvania adoption process.  A step parent adoption is desirable when a child resides with a biological parent who has married a person who is not the child's biological parent, but who wants to adopt the child.  Frequently, step parent adoptions occur with the consent of both biological parents.  Sometimes, however, step parent adoptions are complicated and are the subject of intense litigation requiring an involuntary termination of parental rights.  Whether consensual or not, our law firm can provide you with representation in any Pennsylvania step parent adoption case.

To learn more about the adoption process, click here.

 Custody Rights of Pennsylvania Stepparents

PA stepparents may have the right to sue a custodial parent for partial custody or visitation of the custodial parent's minor children.  This generally occurs when the stepparent and custodial parent have resided together and assumed the joint role of supporting and caring for the custodial parent's minor children.  If the custodial parent denies access to the stepchildren, a stepparent can file a  PA complaint for partial custody or visitation of the stepchildren.  In limited circumstances, if the stepparent's spouse was the custodial parent and dies, the stepparent may be able to obtain a PA primary custody order of the custodial parent's minor children even if there is a surviving biological parent or other blood relatives.

PA Support Obligations of Pennsylvania Step-parents

Pennsylvania step-parents are not liable for the support of their minor stepchildren except in very limited and rare circumstances.  Furthermore, a PA step-parent's income is not a factor in determining the amount of support that a parent will pay or a parent will receive  under a PA child support order although the income of a step-parent may be considered as a factor on whether the PA family court should grant a downward deviation from the PA support guidelines.

Learn More about PA Stepparents' Rights

To learn more about PA step parent rights, please email our Pittsburgh law office or contact us by telephone at (412) 281-9906 or toll-free at  1(866) PA-DIVORCE.  We offer consultations in our PA law firm's Allegheny County offices located in downtown Pittsburgh and one of our suburban meeting locations in Cranberry Township (Butler County), Robinson Township, Washington, South Hills, and Sewickley.  Consultations are also available by telephone.  Our Pennsylvania stepparent adoption lawyers and staff regularly assists family law clients with PA family law issues in Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County.  Our PA stepparent attorneys accept family law cases from Armstrong County, Fayette County, Greene County, Indiana County, Lawrence County, Mercer County, Somerset County and Venango County on a case-by-case basis.   We welcome clients who reside in the Greater Pittsburgh and Butler areas and can meet with us in person as well as clients from other cities, states and countries.  Schedule an appointment with our team of PA family lawyers  to assist you with your PA family law matter!

Read an Article on PA Stepparents

Blended families face difficult financial decisions

Free seminars for PA stepfamilies

Disclaimer

The statements in this section are based on Pennsylvania law and have been issued to inform and not advise.  The statements are general in nature and individual facts in a given case may alter their application or involve other laws not referred to here.