Need Urgent Help?
Stepfamilies Australia is not a crisis response. For crisis responses please call:
- 000 – Police for immediate safety
- 13 11 14 – Lifeline
- 1800- RESPECT (1800- 737 732) family violence and sexual assault 24- hour telephone support
Stepparent rights and responsibilities
Am I a stepparent?
S4 Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) defines a stepparent as a person who:
- Is not a parent of the child;
- Is, or has been, married to or a de facto partner of, a parent of the child; and
- Treats, or at any time while married to or a de facto partner of the parent, treated the child as a member of the family formed with the parent.
A de facto relationship includes same sex couples. Stepparents are legally defined as a ‘relative’ of the child and are therefore able to make an application to the Family Law Courts pursuant to the Family Law Act.