Navigating Family Law: The Role and Rights of Stepparents in Abu Dhabi

As someone who has been involved with students and professionals in the Abu Dhabi community, I have seen firsthand the importance of providing quality resources to help those who may not otherwise know how to navigate the legal landscape. While our target audience is often students, our resources are meant for anyone who seeks more knowledge of the law, especially in the context of family law issues. One aspect of family law that often poses problems to people is the role of stepparents, which can result in situations where stepparents overstepping boundaries legal as the formal legal role of a stepparent is not always well known in Abu Dhabi. In general, a stepparent is a spouse of a child’s biological parent but not their biological parent. The lines can get blurred when legal issues and custody matters come into play, which means that the parameters for the role of a stepparent are often not well defined. This is especially true across cultures, as some cultures do not strictly have the concept of a stepparent at all, while others have many more rules of engagement between stepparents and children.

However, the legal role of a stepparent, their responsibilities and their rights are well defined under Abu Dhabi law. While this is a general definition of a stepparent, it is important to note that stepparents typically are not entitled to custody of children, and if they are married to their new partner they are not financially responsible for the children from their partner’s previous relationship. If the parties decide to get divorced, however, then legal custody of children will be awarded to the biological parent, and any stepparent responsibilities will end as well. Two terms that are also often confused are “adoptive parent” and “biological parent”, as the term stepparent falls somewhere in between these two concepts.

If you have any further questions about stepparents overstepping boundaries legal issues, refer to a qualified Abu Dhabi family law attorney for advice and assistance. The legal role of a stepparent is not often understood, and this can result in some stepparents overstepping their boundaries to abate some of the confusion. In an Abu Dhabi family law context, the consequences of a stepparent overstepping their boundaries is usually limited to those boundaries being reasserted by another family member. However, if stepparents continue to overstep and engage in some of the parenting roles of a biological parent, then there may be additional consequences, such as a stepparent facing misdemeanor charges for false reporting to authorities if a complaint is ever made about the stepparent.

While no criminality may have been intended, this is one reason stepparents should familiarize themselves with the legal role of a stepparent in order to avoid complications arising as a result of the societal role of a stepparent. If anyone is going to have a definitive and traditionally responsible role to play in the life of a new stepchild, it is the biological parent. The non-biological parent does not have to fulfill any responsibilities to the child, but they should also not try to usurp the role of the biological parent. This may include not treating younger children like a source of income that can be bled dry for the purpose of alleviating some of the financial pressure on the biological parent. This can also include limiting visible affection and bond that can cause jealousy in a child who may already feel rejected by the new family member.

While you may struggle with your role as a stepparent, it is important to note that some cultural differences may exist that impact the way a stepchild sees your role in their life. For example, while some cultures do not view the position of “stepparent” as important or relevant, other cultures clearly state the responsibilities of a stepparent. In Abu Dhabi, the law clearly delineates the responsibilities of each party and what their role is in the life of a child, regardless of the cultural background of the family.

Abu Dhabi Polytechnics and other higher education institutions often provide guides to students for how to navigate both academic issues, as well as topics that are in high demand, such as financial literacy, loan understanding, and understanding legal rights in different facets of life. While stepparents are not exactly an area where Abu Dhabi Polytechnics would provide a guide or resource, it is worth noting that having a clear understanding of the law is one way to ensure that stepparents do not overstep their boundaries. Ultimately, the educational role of stepparent advocacy comes in formalizing ideas and concepts that have already been implemented in a general way throughout the community.

For example, a guide on stepparents is not likely to introduce the idea of a stepparent to people, and will instead focus on common law principles that most people are already aware of. However, many people may not be aware of the full legal implications of being a stepparent. For that reason, resources such as guides and videos that explain the law are a good way to educate the community. While it may be difficult to consider the U.A.E.’s family law code to be particularly educational in deference to the stepparent role, it can certainly be observed that the language of the law does not overtly prioritize either the role of a stepparent or the role of the biological parent.

The result is that a 11 month old infant still has a degree of autonomy because the law requires that all decisions ultimately be made by the biological parent, leaving no decision-making power to a stepparent. When viewed this way, it makes the stepparent role in Abu Dhabi fairly limited, and is one way that educational institutions have informally provided a greater degree of knowledge about the law – by ensuring that individuals become familiar with every little nuance of the law, so that there are no surprises. Unfortunately, in matters involving stepparents overstepping boundaries legal counsel is necessary in order to properly lay out both parties’ respective rights and responsibilities. A family law attorney will help you to gain a better understanding of your role and responsibilities as a stepparent and also of the role of the biological parent. Further, an attorney may be able to help you navigate any attempts to undermine your role as a stepparent, or a role that has gradually shifted into something that seems more parental than simply stewardship.

For more information on family law, you can visit Cornell Law School’s Family Law page.