Stepfamily

A stepfamily is a quality where at least one parent has children that are not biologically related to their spouse. Either parent, or both, may have children from preceding relationships or marriages. Two invited classifications for stepfamilies increase "simple" stepfamilies, where only one ingredient of the family's couple has the prior child or children as well as the couple does not gain any children together, and "complex" or "blended" families, where both members of the couple have at least one pre-existing child.

Stepparent adoption

In the United States, the almost common form of adoption is adopting a stepchild. By adopting a stepchild, the stepparent is agreeing to be fully responsible for their spouse's child. The non-custodial parent no longer has all rights or responsibilities for the child, including child support.

When a stepparent adopts a stepchild, either the other biological parent willingly gives up their parental rights to the child, the court terminates those rights, or the other biological parent is deceased. Reasons a court may terminate the non-custodial parent's rights include evidence of abuse or neglect, legal abandonment, or all other specifications that a continued relationship between the child and that parent would be detrimental to the child. Grounds for legal child abandonment in most states is no contact between the parent and child for at least one year.

In Canada, one needs to put into writing what the child's circumstances are for being adopted. Some circumstances may include: the child's mental, physical, and emotional welfare, their background, religion, having a positive relationship, etc. if the child is an indigenous person, then the rank must specify their schedule to keep the child involved in their culture.