I have parental responsibility of my step-daughter since I split with her dad,(we are on friendly terms). She has not seen or heard from her mother for 8 years or her mothers family now her aunt(mother half-sister) has got in contact saying she is going to take me to court to get visitation as I`m not her mum! Help what can I do?

Since you didn't go through the courts to adopt you really have nothing to say about it. By parental responsibility do you mean formal visitation through the courts?

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Originally Posted by califdadof3

Since you didnt go through the courts to adopt you really have nothing to say about it. By parental responsibility do you mean formal visitation through the courts?

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Normally, neither step-mom nor aunt have any legal rights to custody or visitation. If OP has some sort of court giving her "parental responsibility", that is more than the aunt has, I would guess.

If "parental responsibility" is some sort of delegation of authority from the father (OP's ex), that would probably trump whatever claim the aunt has.

Thanks for your answers, didn`t put on the question that my step-daughter is living with me by choice and I have parental reponsbilitiy for her through the court, I`m scared I`m going to lose her

Please define what you mean by "Parental responsibility". What court proceedings actually occurred and what orders have been given.

It does sound like you have legal custody, but as noted, step parents generally have no legal standing. So what the court did is the key here.

Also, if all the aunt wants is visitation, why not let her see the child from time to time?

My step-daughter doesn`t want to meet her, I have a deed of delegation of parental responibility, thanks for all the advice just got a meeting with a lawyer this afternoon x

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Originally Posted by audie73

my step-daughter doesn`t want to meet her,

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That does make a difference.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I will thanks x