Hi, I could really use some help. My ex-husband his claiming that his fiance will have full legal guaradian rights to our children once they are married. I can't believe that's right, unless I die or something... Anyone have any references to MD law in regards to stepparents? Thanks!

Hi, I could really use some help. My ex-husband his claiming that his fiance will have full legal guaradian rights to our children once they are married. I can't believe that's right, unless I die or something... Anyone have any references to MD law in regards to stepparents? Thanks!

Step-parents get whatever rights the parents give them.

For argument's sake, let's say I want to allow my son's babysitter to give permission for medical treatment while I am away. I can do that because I am his parent and in my case the other parent isn't around so the babysitter has the right to give permission to medical treatment.

Let's say however that my ex were around and disagreed. Then the babysitter would not be allowed to give permission for medical treatment.

So... step-parents, grandparents, neighbors, babysitters all get whatever rights the legal parents of the child agree upon.

In my case, my husband does have full legal guardian rights to my first son because I have given him those rights being that he stays home with all of our children and my ex refuses to contact his own son. There are a few situations where I still need to give him notes to prove that he can make decisions for him, which only proves that step-parents don't automatically get rights.

your ex is messing with you. Until such time as the step adopts, they only have rights that are granted by the parent. If the other parent disagrees, the parent's rights trump those of the step- every time.