There are many different kinds of families in America today. Single-parent households, same-sex families and heterosexual families are all the norm. Of course, there are many other kinds of families, too.
One of the problems that has come up in court in the past is the need for more than two legal parents of a child. For example, if two men are married and want to have a child, they’ll need assistance from a surrogate. They may want to keep the surrogate the child’s legal mother while also both having legal rights as parents.
In the past, it was hard to work through that issue in court. Many believed only two people, a man and woman, could be the legal parents of children. Today, that’s changing. More courts are recognizing the need for three-parent families and allowing them to move forward in court. That’s giving many people hope to adopt their step-children, partner’s child or other child they treat as their own.
Your situation may vary from those above, but it’s important to know that your child deserves the best possible structure for your family. If that means having three parents, it’s something the law should allow.
Having three-parent families also means fewer people are giving up their rights to their children in response to another person’s request to adopt or gain parental rights. That means there are more families growing together instead of pushing each other apart for the sake of legal standing.
Families like yours are normal, and the courts recognize it. The right documents can help you secure your place as a legal parent.
Source: The Washington Post, “Modern family: More courts allowing 3 parents of 1 child,” Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press, June 18, 2017