What rights does a step parent have to the step child?

I am considering leaving my husband. He has full custody of his two children ( their mother is no where to be found). These children think of me as their mother. I know if I leave they will not be taken care of and will end up split up or that the state may take them. I am worried about them. What are my options?What rights does a step parent have to the step child?
If you adopt them before the divorce, you will be the legal mother and entitled to custody. This is your best option.What rights does a step parent have to the step child?
The only rights that a step parent has in what the child gives them. It would be almost impossible for you to get custody if your husband wanted it. How long that you have had the children and their ages would be a big factor. You give very little information. The state will not take them if you are willing to care for them. If there is a place where they want to be and are wanted there, the judge will put them there. The state also looks at the money it saves them. Good Luck, I admire you for wanting to raise some one else's children.
Legally adopt the kids before you get a divorce. That's the only way you'll have parental rights. Otherwise - if the kids end up in foster care, blood relatives will have first dibs on them. If you don't have to fight anyone, you might be able to get custody depending on how old the kids are - if they're old enough (roughly age 12 and up), they can ask the judge to be placed in your care.
None. Unless you legally adopted them, you have no rights to keep them at all. Even if you turned him in for child abuse or some other such claim they wouldn't give the children to you unless you became a certified foster parent.
I think you can get a lawyer and possibly get some rights. But its unlikely you will get custody since your not a biological parent.
gotta go to court and prove him as unfit. if there is no biological link between you and the kids it may be very hard. get a good lawyer. good luck