ABSTRACT
A number of legal scholars in the United States (US) have expressed concerns about the uncertain status of stepfamilies in the law. Stepfamily members are typically not granted a number of rights and the accompanying responsibilities that are afforded members of biological families. Most of the attention that has been devoted to laws and policies affecting stepfamilies has been directed to stepfamilies that have been disrupted by divorce. The relatively recent increase in the amount of research on stepfamilies has provided important new information on stepfamilies that may have policy implications. The finding that the stepparent-stepchild relationship can be mutually beneficial and important has several policy implications. The presence of ambiguity regarding the stepparent role and the possibility that this ambiguity negatively impacts step-family members suggest that policies should be pursued that help clarify the stepparent role to whatever extent possible.
