Amend the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2)) (“the 1995 Order”) as follows.
In Article 2(2) (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 child of both of them, and any other child, other than a child placed with them as foster parents by an authority or voluntary organisation, who has been treated by both of them as a child of their family.
In the definition of “relative” in Article 2(2), for “by affinity)” substitute .“ by marriage or civil partnership) ”
In Article 7(1C) (acquisition of parental responsibility by step-parent), after “is married to” insert .“ , or a civil partner of, ”