What are "de facto" parents?

De facto parents are individuals who have taken on the role and responsibilities of a parent without being biologically related to the child or having formal legal recognition as a parent. This designation usually applies to those who have developed a strong, long-term relationship with a child and have acted in a parental capacity, such as providing care, support, and emotional guidance. The importance of recognizing de facto parents lies in ensuring that their contributions to the child's upbringing are acknowledged, particularly in legal circumstances where parental rights and responsibilities are being assessed.

This concept can be crucial in situations involving custody disputes or decisions about the child’s best interests, as de facto parents may have established significant emotional bonds with the child that are relevant to custody and visitation arrangements. Thus, the recognition of de facto parents can facilitate a more nuanced understanding of familial relationships beyond traditional biological or legal definitions.