Part 2Civil partnership: England and Wales

Chapter 5Children

75Parental responsibility, children of the family and relatives

(1)

Amend the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) (“the 1989 Act”) as follows.

(2)

In section 4A(1) (acquisition of parental responsibility by step-parent) after “is married to” insert “ , or a civil partner of, ”.

(3)

In section 105(1) (interpretation), for the definition of “child of the family” (in relation to the parties to a marriage) substitute—

““child of the family”, in relation to parties to a marriage, or to two people who are civil partners of each other, means—

(a)

a child of both of them, and

(b)

any other child, other than a child placed with them as foster parents by a local authority or voluntary organisation, who has been treated by both of them as a child of their family.”

(4)

In the definition of “relative” in section 105(1), for “by affinity)” substitute “ by marriage or civil partnership) ”.