Legal Definitions - legal parent

A legal parent is someone who has been recognized by law as the lawful father or mother of a child. This includes:

• The natural father or mother of a child
• The adoptive father or mother of a child
• A child's putative blood parent who has acknowledged paternity
• An individual or agency whose status as guardian has been established by judicial decree

However, a person's status as a legal parent can be terminated by a court order. For example, if a parent's rights have been terminated due to abuse or neglect, they are no longer considered a legal parent.

Examples:

• John is the biological father of a child and has been recognized as the legal parent after signing the birth certificate.
• Susan and Tom have adopted a child and are now legal parents.
• Mike has acknowledged paternity of a child and is now considered a legal parent.
• Jane has been appointed as the legal guardian of a child by a court order.

These examples illustrate how different individuals can become legal parents through various means, such as biological connection, adoption, or court appointment.