When a parent remarries and the parent’s minor child from the prior marriage forms a significant bond with their new stepparent, the issue of stepparent custody and visitation rights may arise if the marriage with the stepparent also dissolves. Unless the stepparent has legally adopted the child (and is thus no longer a stepparent), courts don’t usually grant a stepparent primary or shared custody of a minor child. But the court may award a stepparent limited visitation rights, depending on the amount of time the stepparent spent with the child, the extent of the stepparent’s participation in the child’s upbringing, and whether the stepparent provided financial support for the child.

In Louisiana, stepparents do not have the same legal standing as biological or adoptive parents when it comes to custody and visitation rights. However, a stepparent who has not legally adopted their stepchild but has formed a significant bond with them may be granted visitation rights under certain circumstances. Louisiana courts will consider factors such as the length and quality of the relationship between the stepparent and the child, the stepparent's involvement in the child's upbringing, and any financial support provided by the stepparent. The child's best interests are the paramount concern for the court when determining whether to award visitation rights to a stepparent. It's important to note that these rights are typically more limited than those granted to biological or adoptive parents, and obtaining primary or shared custody is generally not an option for stepparents unless they have gone through the legal adoption process.