Missouri Vetoes Bill Granting Rights to Non-Biological Parents

SAN DIEGO DIVORCE LAWYERS

Missouri Governor Vetoes Bill Granting Rights to Non-Biological Parents

child custody

We posted recently with regards to a bill making its way through the California legislature that would provide for the legal recognition of more than two people when it comes to parental rights of children.  Specifically, the bill would have provided for visitation and child custody rights for non-biological parents who had established a substantial relationship with a child or children at issue.  That bill is still working its way through the process.  A similar bill in Missouri has been struck down.

House Bill 1758 made its way through the Missouri legislature and got to the point where it was ready to be signed by the governor there.  However, the governor vetoed the bill because he felt that it was too confusing in its language.  Basically, the bill would have allowed for adults who had established substantial relationships with children to petition the family court for child custody and visitation rights.  As of now, there is no specific law in Missouri that speaks to these situations.

Despite the fact that the governor vetoed the bill, proponents of this law vowed to rewrite the language of it so that it is clear with regards to how it should work and then to reintroduce it during next year’s legislative session.  As of now, there is no uniform standard but most people believe that non-biological parents will have legal rights regardless of the nature of the relationship with a child or children.

San Diego Child Custody Lawyers

Even though this bill was vetoed and the bill in California has yet to progress to the point where it could become a law, the fact of the matter is that the dynamics surrounding family structure are changing across society.  People who may not have a blood relation to a child are forming relationships that are substantially similar to those that exist between a child and his or her biological parents.

If you are facing the possibility of dealing with a difficult custody situation, you need to seek the help of San Diego child custody lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of fathers and husbands for many years.  Contact the Men’s Legal Center today to schedule an initial consultation.

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