The Connections Bridgewater-Somerville April 2019

APRIL/MAY 2019 THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION PAGE 35 How the terms “parenthood” and “ family” are defined continues to e volve. Today, it is not uncommon f or a child to have a parent-child r elationship with someone other t han his or her biological parents. As the needs of children change, a nd as society changes, so does the l aw surrounding issues of custody a nd parenting time. A third party who lives in a family- li ke environment with a child, with t he consent of the legal parent, may very well become that child’s p sychological parent. We can see t hat situation when a grandparent, a unt, uncle, or neighbor is called u pon to take care of their grand- c hild, niece, nephew or close fami- ly friend when the legal parent has a mental health issue or drug or alcohol problem. A third party who has been entrust- ed to care for the child, develops a parental relationship with the child for a significant length of time, and lives with and is bonded with the child, can be deemed a psychologi- cal parent, and this psychological parent’s role becomes akin to the role of the natural parent. If a court is called upon to decide between the legal parent and the psycholog- ical parent, the court must use a best-interests-of-the-child standard. There are situations where a third party seeks to terminate the legal rights of a natural parent and obtain custody of a child. Here, the party may seek to become the guardian of the child. In a guardian- ship application, the prospective guardian must show that the par- ent is unfit, has abandoned the child, or has committed some other gross misconduct with exceptional circumstances, to overcome the deference given to legal parents. In a situation where a third party seeks to care for a child but not extinguish parental rights, a kinship legal guardianship provides a viable alternative. A kinship relationship can be defined as one where a rel- ative or family friend is connected to a child or a child’s parents by an established positive psychological or emotional relationship. Adoption may also be a viable option in certain circumstances. Adoption is the most permanent legal option for those seeking to obtain custody. Adoptive parents stand on equal footing with legal parents and are afforded the same rights and protec- tions under the law. As we see the definition of family expanding, so too does the law surrounding those issues. The best interests of the child remain para- mount, but love, support, and sta- bility may very well come from someone other than their biological parent. A MODERN FAMILY By: Jeralyn L. Lawrence, Esq., Lawrence Law, LLC www.theconnectionsnj.com