Some people in Kansas might have questions about stepparent adoption. They may have married someone…
Stepparent Adoption in Kansas

Stepparents have many reasons why they want to adopt their stepchild in Kansas. The child may be grown and want to formalize what has previously been an informal relationship. The child may be a minor, and they vitally depend on their stepparent for guidance and support when they are growing into adulthood. The stepparent adoption lawyers at Colgan Law Firm, LLC can assist you with the legal process of adoption.
The amount of work and necessary approvals depend on the age of the child at the time of adoption. There are many cases when a stepparent wants to adopt an adult stepchild. Both parties may want to formalize a relationship that seems like an official one for years. The grown child may want to recognize the role that the stepparent played in raising them, and they view them more as a parent, even if they are not biological.
Stepparent Adoptions of Adult Children
Even though it is easier to adopt an adult child than it is a minor child, there is still an entire legal process that you would need to go through before the process can be completed. You would have to fill out a variety of paperwork that you would need to submit to the court for them to approve the adoption. Any mistakes in this paperwork can delay or jeopardize the process, so it is vital that you seek help from an adoption lawyer, even in a case where there is already consent to the adoption.
Stepparent Adoption of a Minor Child in Kansas
Stepparent adoption can be more difficult when the adoptee is a minor child. Here, the biological parents have rights that they would either need to give up on their own or have terminated by the court. Realistically, a stepparent adoption would be the easiest when the biological parent would consent to it ahead of time. However, that is not always the case, making the adoption more of a challenge.
Just because the biological parent does not consent to the adoption does not mean that it would be impossible. However, you are looking at contested and potentially bitter litigation, and the stepparent must be prepared to fight the entire distance.
Here, the best interests of the child are what are the most important to the court, as opposed to what may be best for the parent. If you are trying to adopt the child, you need to put forth evidence that shows exactly why the adoption is in the child’s best interests. You would need to overcome the biological parent’s strident objection and any evidence that they may present.
A judge could still entertain an adoption petition from a stepparent even if the biological parent(s) does not consent. A court may consider a number of factors, including:
- The biological parent’s relationship with the minor child and the level of contact between the two
- The role that the stepparent plays in the child’s life and the nature of their relationship
- The wishes of the minor child (if they are above the age of 14, the child must still consent to the adoption)
If the biological parent does not consent to the adoption, the court would hold a trial to consider the petition. This trial would be a hotly contested hearing. If the stepparent succeeds at trial, they would have both the full rights and obligations of a parent, including the requirement to pay child support (for a minor child) should the marriage end. Since one parent’s rights may be terminated, and the stepparent would assume those rights, it is crucial to be very intentional about a minor stepchild adoption.
Contact the Stepparent Adoption Attorneys at the Colgan Law Firm, LLC
For questions involving stepparent adoptions, reach out to the Kansas family law attorneys at the Colgan Law Firm, LLC today. You can schedule an initial consultation by visiting our website or by calling us today at 913-721-9999.