In estate planning and probate matters, the ties that bind tend to govern.  Whether those are family ties created by blood or ties created by law such as marriage, those are the legal links that allow property and other rights to flow from one person to another. Unfortunately, one group that often falls outside the legal line is stepparents in blended families. While they may be legally married to one of the parents of the children, that in and of itself gives the stepparent no legal right regarding the kids. Imagine that the father has his children from a previous marriage for the weekend, but he has to drive a few hours away unexpectedly.  The stepmother is left with the children for most of the day.  While in her care, one of the minor children falls and hits his head, knocking him unconscious.  The stepmother knows that the child’s mother is out of town this weekend, so she takes the injured child to the closest emergency room for treatment. While trying to check in on the c
Via Deborah Sexton