Adoption establishes a legal parent-child relationship between a child and third persons and terminates existing rights and obligations between a child and his or her biological parents. In Kansas, the Adoption and Relinquishment Act (KSA 59-2111 to 59-2144) governs adoptions, which include termination of parental rights and the transfer of legal custody to and creation of legal rights in the adoptive parents. Any adult or married couple may adopt.
KSA 59-2112 defines the different methods of adopting: “adult adoption,” “agency adoption,” “independent adoption,” and “stepparent adoption.” This article focuses on adoption of minors.
Agency adoptions are handled by a public or private entity lawfully authorized to place children for adoption, consent to the adoption, and care for children until they are adopted or reach majority.
Independent adoptions can occur directly with an adoptive family or through an intermediary such as a doctor, lawyer, or friend.
Stepparent adoptions involve the adoption of a minor child by the spouse of a biological parent, which requires termination of the parental rights of only one natural parent.
Jurisdiction and Venue
In Kansas, district courts may hear adoption petitions; however, the court must have jurisdiction. Generally, Kansas will have jurisdiction if the birth mother and adoptive parents are all Kansas residents.
If the child is of Native American heritage, the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 USC §§ 1901 to 1963, may apply. Further, the parties may need to comply with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (KSA 38-1201 to 38-1206) if the child is born in Kansas and is to be placed with adoptive parents in another state or is born out of state and an agency will be involved in the adoption in Kansas.
Intercountry Adoptions
Additional requirements exist for intercountry adoptions. An intercountry adoption is the process of legally adopting a child from a foreign country. Kansas law provides that a foreign adoption decree will have the same force and effect as an adoption filed and finalized in Kansas:
The U.S. Department of State outlines procedures for intercountry adoptions at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption.html.
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)
Legislation enacted in 2018 (Kansas SB 284) clarifies jurisdiction over adoption proceedings, including termination of parental rights proceedings, which are governed by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) [KSA 23-37,101 to 37,405]. If at the time the petition is filed a proceeding concerning the custody or adoption of the minor is pending in another state exercising jurisdiction pursuant to the UCCJEA, Kansas may not exercise jurisdiction unless the other state’s court stays its proceeding. Similarly, if another state has issued a decree or order concerning custody, Kansas may not exercise jurisdiction unless the court of the state issuing the order does not have continuing jurisdiction, has declined to exercise jurisdiction, or does not have jurisdiction. For more information on the UCCJEA, see the memorandum “Child Custody and Visitation Procedures,” which can be found at http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/JudiciaryCorrections&JuvenileJustice.html.
Petition
KSA 59-2128 lists the required contents of a petition for adoption and requires the following items be filed with the petition:
Consent
KSA 59-2114 requires consent to be in writing and acknowledged before a judge or officer authorized to take acknowledgments, such as a notary. If acknowledged before a judge, the judge must inform the consenting person of the legal consequences of the consent. The consent is final when executed “unless the consenting party, prior to final decree of adoption, alleges and proves by clear and convincing evidence that the consent was not freely and voluntarily given.” The type of consent depends on the kind of adoption sought, e.g., independent adoptions or stepparent adoptions.
Independent Adoption
In an independent adoption, consent is required from:
Stepparent Adoption
In a stepparent adoption, consent must be given by:
Adopting Minors
If the parent is a minor, this does not invalidate the parent’s consent; however, birth parents younger than 18 years old must receive the advice of independent legal counsel on the consequences of execution of a consent. Unless the minor birth parent is otherwise represented, the petitioner or child placement agency must pay for the cost of independent legal counsel. An attorney providing independent legal advice shall be present at the execution of the consent.
The natural mother cannot give consent until 12 hours after the birth of the child. A father may give consent any time after the birth of a child, or before the birth of the child if he has the advice of independent legal counsel as to the consequences prior to its execution.
Agency Adoption
For an agency adoption, once parents relinquish their child to an agency, consent must be given by the authorized representative of the agency and any child older than 14 sought to be adopted who is of sound intellect.
Relinquishment
Relinquishment is the process of custody and parental rights being forfeited by the parent and assumed by another party. Relinquishments to an agency will be deemed sufficient if they are in substantial compliance with the form created by the Kansas Judicial Council. Like consents, the relinquishment must be in writing and acknowledged by a notary or the court. (Again, the judge must inform the person of the legal consequences of the relinquishment.)
Similar to consent, the law requires independent counsel for a minor relinquishing a child and provides the natural mother cannot relinquish the child until 12 hours after the birth. A father may relinquish any time after the birth of a child. If the agency accepts the relinquishment, the agency stands in loco parentis for the child and has the rights of a parent or legal guardian, including the power to place the child for adoption. When a parent relinquishes a child, all parental rights are terminated.
Termination of Parental Rights
When parents consent to an adoption, they agree to the termination of their parental rights. Parental rights are not terminated until the judge makes the final decree of adoption. A court can also terminate parental rights pursuant to a CINC proceeding if a parent does not sign a consent. For more information on CINC proceedings, see the memorandum “Foster Care,” which can be found at http://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-web/JudiciaryCorrections&JuvenileJustice.html.
Additionally, KSA 59-2136 addresses circumstances in which the necessity of a parent’s consent or relinquishment is in question. While it frequently refers to fathers, it specifies, insofar as it is practicable, those provisions applicable to fathers also apply to mothers. Absent a father’s consent, his parental rights must be terminated.
If a father is unknown or his whereabouts are unknown, the court must make an effort to identify the father; appoint an attorney to represent him; and, if no person is identified as the father or possible father or if the father’s whereabouts are unknown, order publication notice of the hearing.
If identified, he must receive notice of the termination proceedings. If no father is identified or if, after receiving notice, he fails to appear or does not claim custodial rights, the court will terminate his parental rights. If a father is identified to the court and claims parental rights, the court must determine parentage pursuant to the Kansas Parentage Act (KSA 23-2201 to 23-2225).
Further, if the father cannot employ an attorney, the court must appoint one for him. Thereafter, the court may terminate a parent’s rights and find the consent or relinquishment unnecessary if it determines by clear and convincing evidence:
In determining whether to terminate parental rights, the court must consider all of the relevant surrounding circumstances and may disregard incidental visitations, contacts, communications, or contributions.
Assessments
Petitioners must obtain an assessment and a report of the assessment and have it filed to the court before the hearing on the petition. The assessment includes the results of the investigation of the adoptive parents, their home, and ability to care for the child. An assessment is performed by a person meeting statutory qualifications. Assessments are only valid if performed within a year of filing the petition for adoption.
Temporary Custody Order
In an independent or agency adoption, the court may issue a temporary custody order pending the hearing. If the court places the child in a home not licensed to provide such care, the home must first be assessed by a person or agency authorized to make assessments, or the court may “expeditiously” conduct an evidentiary hearing, including testimony by the petitioners, prior to making the placement.
Adoption Hearing and Final Decree
KSA 59-2133 requires the court to set the hearing within 60 days from the date of the filing of the adoption petition. Additionally, in independent and stepparent adoptions, it requires notice be given to parents or possible parents at least ten calendar days before the hearing, unless parental rights have been terminated or waived, and to any person who has physical custody of the child, unless waived. The court may designate others to be notified. In agency adoptions, notice must be served upon the consenting agency, the parents or possible parents, any relinquishing party, and any person who has physical custody of the child at least ten calendar days before the hearing, unless waived. After the hearing on the petition, the court considers the assessment and all evidence and, if the adoption is granted, makes a final decree of adoption.
Rights of an Adopted Child
An adopted child is entitled to the same personal and property rights as a birth child of the adoptive parents, who likewise are entitled to exercise all the rights of a birth parent and are subject to all the liabilities of that relationship. Both KSA 59-2118 and KSA 59-2136 allow children to inherit from their birth parents after parental rights have been terminated, although the birth parents’ right to inherit is severed at that time.
Recent Enacted Legislation
2018 SB 284
Legislation enacted in 2018, SB 284, created the Adoption Protection Act (codified at KSA 2019 Supp. 60-5322), which states, notwithstanding any other provision of state law and to the extent allowed by federal law, no child placement agency (CPA) shall be required to perform, assist, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or otherwise participate in placement of a child for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement of the child violates the CPA’s sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill also prohibits taking the following actions against a CPA, if taken solely because of the CPA’s objection to providing any of the services described above on the grounds of such religious beliefs:
The CPA’s sincerely held religious beliefs must be described in the CPA’s organizing documents, written policies, or such other written document approved by the CPA’s governing body. The provisions of the bill do not apply to an entity while the entity has a contract with DCF as a case management contractor.
The bill also made numerous amendments to the Adoption and Relinquishment Act based on Kansas Judicial Council recommendations.
Recent Proposed Legislation
2020 HB 2587
HB 2587 would have amended venue requirements for agency adoptions in the Adoption and Relinquishment Act to allow adoption proceedings to take place in a county where DCF or a subcontracting agency has an office when the State or a department of the State is the adoption agency. The bill was passed by the House and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, but it died in committee.
2019 SB 6
SB 6 was prefiled for introduction in the 2019 Legislative Session. The bill would have required that DCF collaborate with stakeholders to develop a plan to implement performance-based contracts to provide evidence-based prevention and early intervention services for at-risk families to have out-of-home placement for children awaiting adoption. Additionally, savings from reduced foster care caseloads would be reinvested into these programs to reduce the duration of foster care placement. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare, with no further action taken.
2019 HB 2025
HB 2025 was prefiled for introduction in the 2019 Legislative Session. The bill would have amended definitions used in the CINC Code (KSA 2018 Supp. 38-2202 and 38-2241) by adding to the definition of “interested party”: “a person who has filed a petition for adoption pursuant to KSA 59-2128, and amendments thereto, while such petition is pending.” The bill was referred to the House Committee on Children and Seniors, with no further action taken.
2019 HB 2164
HB 2164 would have repealed the Adoption Protection Act. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs. No further action was taken on the bill.
2019 HB 2333
HB 2333, as amended by the House Committee on Judiciary, would have provided that a final decree of adoption shall take effect upon the filing of the judgment, except that, if the child being adopted is 16 or 17 years of age, the court may order a final decree of adoption to take effect at an earlier date. The bill was stricken from the House Calendar on February 27, 2020.
Milesha Segun, Research Analyst
Milesha.Segun@klrd.ks.gov
Natalie Nelson, Principal Research Analyst
Natalie.Nelson@klrd.ks.gov