If you have married someone who had children from a previous relationship, these are your step-children. Even if you have helped raised the child from a very young age, unless you have legally adopted the child, he will not be considered your child for inheritance purposes. This can have significant implications for your family.

For example, when Harry and Sally got married, Sally had a child John from a previous relationship. Harry helped to raise John from a young age, but he could not adopt him, because John’s father did not want to give up his parental rights.

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