What is a reconstituted family?

• A. A family formed after divorce where step-parents and step-siblings are present.
• B. A family consisting only of two biological parents who never separated.
• C. A family where extended relatives live in the same home but not through remarriage.
• D. A family with no children.

Answer: (A)

A reconstituted family is a blended family formed after a divorce or separation when one or both partners bring children from previous relationships into a new household, so stepparents and step-siblings appear in the family mix. This captures the essential idea: remarriage or forming a new partnership creates a new family unit that includes children from earlier relationships.

That’s why the description stating a family formed after divorce where step-parents and step-siblings are present is the best fit. It highlights the core features: remarriage and the inclusion of children from prior relationships, which distinguishes it from a traditional two-biological-parent family without remarriage, a household of extended relatives without remarriage, or a childless family.