Step-parent signature on legal documents

[jcsct5]

Soc-

My two minor children's step-parent insists on signing legal documents for the children. For example school permision slips giving both permision to attend trips, (during my custody time) and permision for medical treatment of the children, and she most recently signed a document titled "Waiver, Release, and Indemnity Clause" on behalf of my children.  

Parties (ex and I, not step-parents) have joint legal custody and I have sole physical custody.


1. Because she is their step-parent, does this give her legal capacity to sign documents when it requires Parent/Legal Gaurdian signature?

2. If anwser to # 1 is NO, what ramifications if any could come of her signing these documents, to the school, myself or her?


Thanks in advance

[socrateaser]

>1. Because she is their step-parent, does this give her legal
>capacity to sign documents when it requires Parent/Legal
>Gaurdian signature?

No.

>
>2. If anwser to # 1 is NO, what ramifications if any could
>come of her signing these documents, to the school, myself or
>her?

Probably none, unless the document requires both lagal parents' signatures, or the step parent signed in the absence of either legal parent.

Then, if something happened to the child as a consequence of the unlawful permission, you could sue the step parent for negligence.