Can a Stepparent Attend Doctor Appointments? Stepparent Rights

One might assume that a stepparent would be able to take their stepchild to doctor appointments. After all, a stepfamily is like all other families in most ways. So can a stepparent attend doctor appointments?

Stepparents are not allowed to attend doctor appointments with their stepchildren, nor are they allowed to make medical decisions for their stepchild. Although a stepparent plays a significant role in their stepchild’s life, stepparents do not have legal rights to their stepchild.

As with anything, exceptions may apply. Each state’s laws may also differ slightly from another, but in general, stepparents lack legal rights to provide medical consent for a child.

A doctor and small child holding a teddy bear.

Can a Stepparent Attend Doctor Appointments?

Stepparents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are not considered legal parents, and as a result, they may not consent to their minor relatives’ medical treatment.

It’s worth noting that if a stepparent or relative legally adopts a child, the answer changes because the stepparent or relative is now the child’s legal parent.

Because stepparents frequently assist with parental chores, including transportation to healthcare visits, the scenario of an unadopted stepchild presents a common dilemma for parents and healthcare providers.

In this situation, healthcare practitioners may decide to create a written authorization form for parents to utilize, which permits (i.e. consents to) the treatment of their minor kid and authorizes the stepparent to bring their child for treatment.

In this scenario, the authorization should include a phone number where the healthcare provider can reach out to the parent and confirm the authenticity of the authorization as well as the parent’s continuous consent.

Of course, there are several circumstances in which children may consent to their own or another’s medical treatment, such as:

  • A medical crisis, as decided by the doctor;
  • A pregnant minor may consent to prenatal care medical treatment;
  • A minor who is also a parent may consent to his or her own child’s treatment;

Patients may only be treated when they have given their informed consent, with a few exceptions.

Because children are thought incapable of consenting, health care practitioners must get the approval of the minor’s parent or legal guardian, unless an exception applies.

Can Stepparents Make Medical Decisions?

Again, each state’s laws are different. Yet in general, a stepparent is not allowed to make any kind of medical decision for their stepchild.

The stepparent may not be aware of their legal rights to grant or refuse consent for their stepchild’s medical care.

A parent or guardian must grant informed consent for a minor kid to receive a medical procedure; however, stepparents are often unable to do so.

Exceptions to this rule may apply. If the stepparent formally adopted the child, for example, they can provide informed permission for medical treatment.

If they have become the child’s legal guardian, they can also offer informed consent. They’ll need a signed statement allowing them to consent, which will be preserved alongside the child’s medical records.

Even if a stepparent lacks the right to agree, they are nonetheless responsible for obtaining medical treatment for a kid if it is essential.

A kid can still obtain emergency services such as a diagnosis or pain relief medication if the stepparent is not permitted to give informed permission for medical treatment.

Consent is deemed “presumed” and treatment will be offered as long as the child’s life is in danger or they risk substantial handicap if treatment is not given immediately.

Child custody battles can become contentious, especially if one parent remarries.

If the other parent does not want the stepparent to be able to consent to their child’s medical treatment, a family law attorney can help by working with the court to iron out details like who can visit the child, what role stepparents should play in the child’s upbringing, and who can make medical decisions.


It’s difficult to know what the proper boundaries are for a stepparent. Learn what a stepparent should never do.

How Involved Should a Stepparent Be?

Being a stepparent is without a doubt one of the most difficult tasks an adult will ever take on. If you can agree on some very basic definitions of that role and be aware of any sensitivities, you can avoid a lot of pain.

To deal with this issue effectively, both the biological parent and the stepparent should have an open and honest talk about their worries and expectations for the children’s relationship.

Both parties should be aware of what the other expects from the stepparent in terms of guiding, supervising, and disciplining the children.

Once you have a good understanding of each other’s expectations, you may begin to shape the stepparent role. I believe it is critical to discover what you can agree on initially to narrow your disagreements.

Of course, how you define the stepparent role is entirely up to you.

Below are some ways to effectively be involved as a stepparent for your stepchild:

Discipline – Both Parents Should Be On the Same Page

Every circumstance is different, but in the vast majority of cases, disciplining your nonbiological children is loaded with risk, as it is likely to cause animosity in your spouse.

Again, this isn’t always the case, and if it isn’t in your family, that’s fantastic since it gives the biological parent a second option for dealing with discipline issues.

The biological parent’s disciplinary attempts must receive active support from the stepparent.

Both biological parents and stepparents should talk about the house rules and agree on what expectations the kids will have.

Don’t Expect a Quick Emotional Connection With Your Stepchild

The stepparents mustn’t have unreasonable expectations regarding their level of intimacy or connection with the stepchildren.

Relationships need time and shared experiences to form, and it takes time and shared experiences to form a meaningful one.

The stepparent should also be aware that the child may be experiencing emotional difficulty and may even feel guilty for having a close and caring relationship with their stepmother or father, as they are betraying their biological mother or father.

Allowing the youngster to work through those feelings should be approached with caution and patience.

Openly Communicate Concerns With Your Partner

If you’re a biological parent who’s frustrated with the stepparent and what they’re doing with your children, ask your partner for what you want and need as soon as possible.

For example, if you believe they are spending more time hanging out and doing activities with their children, invite them to play a game with your child each week. Make a clear request for what you desire.

Don’t Play Favorites

You will almost certainly have stronger positive emotional feelings for your biological children than for your stepchildren, at least at first. This disparity in emotional intensity will need to be hidden.

There will be a leveling of emotions toward all of the children as time passes and you share life experiences with your stepchildren.

Meanwhile, you should be acutely aware of the necessity to deal with each in the same manner.

Quantifying and balancing the time, activities, and money spent on biological and nonbiological children can be extremely beneficial in the early stages.

Be Your Stepchild’s Ally and Supporter

The stepparent should strive to characterize his or her connection with all of the children as that of an ally and supporter.

Whether the stepparent is a parent of the same or opposite gender, their presence can provide crucial balancing in terms of modeling and providing information about life from a male or female perspective.

The position of ally and supporter should not be interpreted as a bid to take the place of the biological parent.

Be a Supporter of the Biological Parent

You should make it a top priority to foster a relationship with the biological parent of your stepchild and to encourage his or her bond with the children in any manner you can.

You’ll find it simpler to overcome sentiments of resentment on the part of both the biological father and the children he no longer sees daily if you take the high road of facilitation.

Supporting your stepchildren’s relationship with their biological but absent parent may appear to be akin to also supporting that parent’s relationship with your spouse, thus this may require some serious personal commitment on your part.

Don’t let your jealousy or envy of their bond with their children, or your present mate’s working relationship and background, force you to be less than supportive of that relationship.


What are the chances of a blended family’s success? Learn more here.

What Stepparents Should Never Do

A stepfamily provides a fresh opportunity for love and family life, but it also represents an attempt to bring together multiple parents and difficulties, as well as spouses and siblings.

A stepfamily is a fundamentally different structure than a first-time family, and it creates a distinct foundation for relationships.

One of these distinctions is that the spouses in a stepfamily do not have an equal relationship with the children or in the parenting process.

This dynamic establishes a web of boundaries that stepparents should avoid crossing. We look at eight frequent blunders to avoid and how stepparents might deal with them.

Never Put Pressure On Your Spouse to Put You First

Putting pressure on your new spouse to always put you first, or perceiving your stepchild’s need for one-on-one time with his parent as a danger to your relationship.

Children frequently fear that their parents’ affection for a new marriage will translate into less love for them. This dread may lead to unreasonable wrath and resentment on the part of youngsters.

Problems in the family and marriage can emerge if a stepparent does not realize the importance of a child having a strong link with his biological parent.

Don’t Interfere When There is Conflict Between Your Spouse and Your Stepchild

It’s important to let your stepchildren and partner hash out their differences on their own if you want to keep your connection with them intact.

Unless the stepparent and kid have a strong bond, the youngster will likely feel as if the stepparent is intruding on their personal space, which can lead to resentment toward the stepparent.

Even if you have the best of intentions, interfering with your spouse and stepchild can hinder them from learning to solve difficulties on their own, which can have a detrimental impact on your marriage.

If you swoop in and try to solve everything for your husband, he may feel emasculated and see your conduct as an indication that you don’t believe he can handle his child.

Your marriage will undoubtedly be strained as a result of this.

Never Try to Take the Place of Your Stepchild’s Biological Parent

You can never and should not strive to take the place of the other biological parent, whether the new marriage is the result of divorce or death. These aren’t your children. Respect the child’s need to adore the biological ex-spouse, regardless of what he or she has done. It’s the same whether you insist on being addressed as “Mom” or “Dad” by your stepchildren. Never. Ever.

Never Spank or Use Any Type of Physical Punishment

Even if you believe in spanking, a stepparent should never resort to using physical punishment on a child. Never lose your cool with your stepchildren by punching, swearing, or losing cool.

It’s difficult enough when children’s tempers flare up with their parents. The incident, as well as the traumatic recollections of physical discipline from a stepparent, can linger for a lifetime, jeopardizing any opportunity of establishing trust and respect in the new family.

Don’t Be an Authoritarian

Young children may be more inclined to accept a stepparent’s authority in the new household, but older adolescents and teens will frequently reject a stepparent’s attempts to assume authority.

Don’t Get in the Middle of Discussions Between Your Partner and Their Ex

It’s tempting to join in on a parenting debate between your spouse’s ex-partner but resist. If you give unsolicited advice, the ex will likely feel ganged up against you because he or she did not consent to co-parent with you.

Exes who are still angry or sad from the divorce can cause a lot of heartache for you and your spouse, so try not to get involved in their conversations.

Never Go Against Your Partner’s Desires

It is not your place to override your stepchild’s mother’s desires if she has barred her daughter from dying her hair, wearing midriff-baring clothing, or dating before she is 16 years old.

There are no ex-parents, only ex-spouses, to consider. Even though your new spouse is no longer married to your ex, the ex still has a voice in how their children are raised.

Don’t Ever Bad Mouth Your Partner’s Ex

Even if the stepchildren are doing it, talking badly about the ex-spouse is always a no-no.

A stepparent must listen with understanding and kindness, rather than disparaging the parent in front of the child or allowing the child to hear unpleasant remarks about their parent.

After all, the child is half of that person, and unfavorable words may be perceived as an attack on their DNA. Exposure to prolonged conflict and repeated negative messages that place them in the middle of conflict can harm children.