Father and son roller skating in summer park

19 Ways to Be a Good Stepfather

Many stepfathers emotionally distance themselves from their stepchildren and stop participating in daily routines that involve the children. Men pull away because being a stepdad can be difficult, especially when they don’t know how to do it. However, stepfathers can play … Read more

Young family with little son spending time together outside.

Do Stepparents Have Legal Rights to Stepchildren?

When two families combine as one, there are many questions that arise. For example, do stepparents have legal rights to stepchildren? Stepparents do not generally have any legal rights to their stepchildren unless the stepparent adopts the child. As with … Read more

Mature family sitting in the grass outside.

What Are Your Inheritance Rights as a Stepchild?

Blended families confront distinct estate planning issues than typical families, especially when there are children and stepchildren involved. What are your inheritance rights as a stepchild? Stepchildren have no inheritance rights unless they were adopted. If the stepparent dies without … Read more

Military dad with wife holding his small daughter.

Do Stepchildren Qualify for Military Benefits?

The United States military provides its military families with a wide range of benefits as a way of making sure that our military families are provided for. But do stepchildren qualify for military benefits? Stepchildren are considered dependents and qualify … Read more

Girl on bench outside looking up at her dad.

How to Get Along With Your Stepchild?

When you first become a stepparent, it’s natural to question if you should act like a parent right away or wait and see. Also, how do you make sure you get along with your stepchild? To get along with your … Read more

Children covering their eyes and smiling.

Are Stepparents Responsible For Child Support?

Stepparents can serve a parental role in their stepchild’s life and create enduring familial relationships with them. But what if the marriage doesn’t last? Are stepparents responsible for child support? In most cases, a stepparent is not obligated to pay … Read more