When it comes to the abilities and rights of a grandparent in regard to their grandchild, adoption is the most extreme. In Kansas, when a relative or family member wishes to adopt a child, this is call Kinship Adoption. A grandparent can petition for custody or visitation rights of their grandchild, however filing for adoption is an entirely different level of process and right. In order for a grandparent to legally adopt his or her grandchild, the rights of the biological parents must first be relinquished or terminated. This means that both parents of the child must no longer have any rights to the child and will cease to have any responsibility towards them. The parents will no longer have any obligation to the child, financial or otherwise, nor will they have any visitation or custody rights.
Rights of Adoptive Grandparents
A kinship adoption is much like being granted guardianship of the child, but there are also significant differences.