What happens to a stepparent's relationship with a stepchild if the parent they were with dies?

A stepparent has no automatic legal right to continued contact with a stepchild after the parent they were with dies - parental authority typically passes to the child's surviving legal parent or another legal guardian, and the stepparent's role isn't preserved by law simply because of the relationship that existed. That said, a stepparent who had a genuine, ongoing parenting role in the child's life can apply to the family court for contact or parenting time as a non-parent, the same way a stepparent could after a separation, by showing a close relationship with the child and that continuing it serves the child's best interests.

Whether this is realistic depends heavily on the family's circumstances: a surviving parent who supports continued contact makes the situation much simpler and often avoids the need for a court application altogether, while a surviving parent who objects makes it a harder, contested case similar to other non-parent standing disputes. If you were a genuinely involved stepparent and contact has been cut off after a parent's death, document your history with the child and speak with a family lawyer about whether an application is realistic in your situation.