New Non-Bio Mom Rights in Washington; Necessary but Not Sufficient

The Washingon State Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a non-bio mom who raised a child with her partner from birth to age 6 can seek rights as a “de facto parent,” the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

This is certainly better than a ruling to the contrary, but doesn’t go as far as California’s August ruling that lesbian partners who have children while they are a couple are both entitled, and required, to be treated as the children’s parents. Nor does it come close to a New Jersey ruling that allowed a lesbian couple to put both the bio and non-bio moms’ names on their child’s birth certificate, without needing an adoption, thus securing both their rights from the moment of birth.

Of course, on the day when an Oregon judge upheld that state’s same-sex marriage ban, this begs the question of why a lesbian couple shouldn’t be able to legalize their own relationship and thus provide two parents under the law in the same way as a heterosexual couple.

In the meantime, however, make sure you cover yourselves as legally necessary. If you’re in a long-term relationship with kids, talk with a lawyer. That’s Friday’s public-service announcement. Have a good weekend.