What is required to show a 'settled intention' to treat a child as one's own for standing purposes?

Showing a settled intention to treat a child as one's own generally means demonstrating an ongoing, deliberate pattern of taking on a parental role, rather than a brief or casual involvement in the child's life. Courts look at practical, concrete evidence: living with the child for a meaningful period, participating in day-to-day care and major decisions such as schooling or medical matters, being introduced to others as a parent figure, and financially supporting the child in a manner consistent with a parental relationship rather than occasional generosity.

The word "settled" matters - a short-term or uncertain relationship, or one where the adult's role was always understood by everyone, including the child, to be temporary or secondary, is less likely to meet this standard than a relationship that operated, in practice, like a parent's for a significant stretch of the child's life. There's no fixed length of time or checklist that guarantees a finding either way; it's assessed on the whole picture of the relationship. If you believe you've developed this kind of role with a child, gather documentation - school or medical records listing you, photos, communications, and financial contributions - and speak with a family lawyer about whether your situation is likely to meet this threshold before applying.