Do any Step Parents have Parental Responsibilty Rights?

[ToddlersRFab]

My ExH wants his new wife to have PR for our DS (4) in case of a medical emergency.

We live approx 10 minutes drive from each other, therefore no reason in my eyes why this is required.

I just wondered if any step parents have this and why.

BONSOIR

Well it appears not, was just saying they could do it outside OP's agreement, in certain circumstances. Not saying they should, or have any right to.

My understanding is that courts agree to PR for a step-parent when one parent is not fulfilling his/her parental role and a stepparent is clearly filling the void. Which is fair enough, but not remotely the case in the OP.

I do. The judge granted it to DH and me jointly very early in our marriage at the same time he granted permanent residency of the DSs to us. I have raised them since they were little though and birth mum has never showed any interest in them whatsoever. I really am more like an adoptive mum than a stepmum in a way, even though they are DHs.

monkey

The DfE guidance for schools here is fairly comprehensive on this issue because of previous situations in which schools have been caught out.

It explains that a person (such as a step parent) who has day to day responsibility for a child is considered a parent and should be given information and be involved in decisions. However, it clearly states that when consent is required, it should be obtained from the resident parent, or both parents for significant matters or in cases where the NRP has requested it.

I have PR for DSS, dh asked and mum agreed. DSS lives here and I'm a SAHM so it was practically very helpful. I have needed it quite a few times, have been asked at both the docs and the dentist.

Yeah we had to provide the PR and the custody letter to everyone else they wouldnt register DSD, we have a 2 wk wait to get her into school due to BM losing her birth cert

I have over my 13yr old SDD.She has lived with us for 10 yrs and I love her as my own so it is logical for us.

My Exh demanded it for his new partner. We lived 10 minutes apart. I have DS 65% of time.

Solicitor instructed me not to agree. We have shared PR.

You'd be mad to agree to this. I don't know why you would even give this a seconds consideration.
Fair enough for step parents who have raised dc in the absence of their biological parent but under normal circumstances, no. Your children are yours.

No no and no. If they divorced she's still have rights to your son meaning visitation etc. There is no good reason for it. School/doctors still deal with me just fine even though I don't have PR.

SPs only need PR if something has gone significantly pear shaped. Does not sound like this is the case with you.

It's not a "risk" as such as legally (as per the Education act 1990- something, I believe) school must treat resident step parents as equals to bio parents and anyone else with PR, even if step parent doesn't have PR.
If this is the case, why do our school asks every year who to contact and ask to specify who has PR? Also, in all forms to be signed, you have to tick whether you're a parent or carer, never seen a step-parent option.

My understanding of the court, when I researched the matter, is that it is automatically granted if those with PR agree to it. If they don't, it is up to the judge to decide what is in the best interest of the child. If the child has two parents involved in their care and there are no concerns, a 3rd party is unlikely to be granted it if one of the parents doesn't agree to it.

As for the medical argument, this would only apply in a non immediate situation (as any decision on immediate life or death situation would be that of the medic). Is it right for a SP to be given a voice over immunisation, or worse, whether life support machine should be turned off when there are two parents already to make that decision?

When the law makes it clear that NRP partners have no duty to financially support their SC, I really cannot see why they think they should have a systematic right to PR.