Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Can a couple who have been living together for a year use the "stepparent" title when dealing with teachers/school of children from their previous marriage and what are the legal ramifications?


Asked on 1/28/11, 10:10 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Amir John Showrai The Pacific Law Firm, PLLC

Legally, no. A step-parent is one who is married to the parent of a child, whom they are not the biological or adoptive parent of. A couple living together do not constitute step-parents. I would not advise listing the boyfriend or girlfriend as a "step-parent" on legal forms without being married. It may boomerang on your later on in the course of a custody fight that may not be foreseeable now, but which may nonetheless occur in the future.

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Answered on 2/08/11, 3:48 pm


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