Blended families are becoming increasingly common in Denver and cities across the country. In fact, it is not unusual for children to be raised by stepparents and among stepsiblings. The relationship that stepparents have with their stepchildren is often incredibly close and committed; however, legal questions can be raised over stepparents’ child custody rights in the event of divorce. If you are facing the prospect of divorce and have concerns over how your relationship with your stepchildren may be affected by the process, rest assured that the attorneys at Frost & Beck, P.C., have a great deal of experience handling these types of family law issues.
LegalZoom discusses when and how stepparent rights differ from those of biological parents in family law proceedings and explains that guidelines have evolved over the years. Of course, the primary factor in any child custody case is what serves the best interests of the child involved. If there is evidence that you and your stepson or daughter have a healthy and close relationship, then, the court may consider awarding you partial custody rights.
In the state of Colorado, it is also not uncommon for stepparents to be awarded visitation rights to their stepchildren in the event that they divorce from the children’s natural parent. Such visitation arrangements respect the fact that suddenly terminating your relationship with your stepson or daughter could be harmful to his or her well-being.
Keep in mind, however, that child custody arrangements often involve multiple factors and considerations. Learn more about when and how joint custody is established, along with other child custody topics, by visiting our web page today.
Tags: Child Custody
Related Posts: The custody battle from a child's perspective, Modification of child custody in Colorado, How do Colorado courts enforce parenting plans?, CFIs, PREs and allocation of parental responsibilities