Defacto Parents

For years, Maryland courts held that parental rights were limited to biological and adoptive parents. This month, Maryland’s highest court overturned that policy, ruling that adults involved in raising a child may be considered “de facto parents.” Today, we’ll look at the implications for LGBT parents and also for blended families. What does this mean for the rights and responsibilities of former step-parents and other adults who help raise a child? Does this decision reflect a shift in how courts consider the interests of children? We’ll speak to an attorney who has pioneered legal protections for LGBT couples, and to state Senator Rich Madaleno, whose proposal for de facto parents died in the 2015 General Assembly. What makes a parent?