Legal Question in Family Law in Kansas

First determine if Mom and Dad agree to your adopting thier girl. This will affect the complexity of the case a lot. If both parents agree, there are many attornies throughout the state that can handle this case for you. If either or both parents (or their blood relatives) disagree there will be more legal hoops you will have to go through. First, you will have to have the parent(s) parental rights terminated. If there has been abuse or neglect, the prosecutor may take this part over for you. As you referred to her as your stepdaughter, I assume you are now married to her mother or father.

Most often it is just the former ex spouse's rights that have to be terminated in cases of stepparent adoption. If he/she has visitation and paid any kind of support, it may be nearly impossible to have their rights termianted. Wihtout this termination (automatic upon death) there is no mother/father vacancy for yoru to fill.

Regardless of how the vacancy is established the court may appoint a guardian Ad Litem (attorney for the girl) that you will pay for. That GAL will make a presentation to the Corut s to whether the adoption shoud lgo forward. The State will do a backgroudn check of you and a home study. From that there will be another recommendation report for the judge to consider.

You should consider seriously if you want to adopt this child. If you adn yrou spouse divorce, you may hav eto support, shich coudl include four or more years of college. If the chidl has any disabilities that time can be extended. Once you determine that you want to, and the level of likely resistance from any blood relatives of the child, you should consult direclty with an adoption attorney in your area. They can give you further advice suited to your particular case. If there is is little resistance, you may be able to do such an adoption for less than $5,000. Sometimes it can be much cheaper, if there is less things that have to be done by the attorney or agents of the state. If there is significant roadblocks, the cost can be greater.

Good luck