Can a parent limit a stepparent's contact with a child immediately after the adult relationship ends?

Yes, in the absence of an existing court order or written agreement, a biological or legal parent generally has the authority to limit or stop a stepparent's contact with the child immediately after the adult relationship ends, the same way a parent can generally decide who has access to their child day to day. A former stepparent has no automatic right to continued contact simply because of the prior relationship with the parent, no matter how close the bond with the child was.

That doesn't mean the stepparent has no recourse. A stepparent who had a genuine, ongoing parenting role can respond by applying to the family court for contact or parenting time as a non-parent, based on the standing framework used for other non-parents, showing that the relationship with the child was real and that continuing it serves the child's best interests. Acting quickly matters here in a practical sense - the longer contact is cut off before an application is brought, the more a court may focus on the current gap rather than the relationship's earlier strength. If contact has just been cut off and you believe your relationship with the child was significant, get legal advice promptly about your options.