Amend the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) (“the 1989 Act”) as follows.
In section 4A(1) (acquisition of parental responsibility by step-parent) after “is married to” insert .“ , or a civil partner of, ”
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.
In the definition of “relative” in section 105(1), for “by affinity)” substitute .“ by marriage or civil partnership) ”