Grandparents who adopt their grandchildren become financially responsible for their support. Where a grandchild has been in foster care, adoption subsidies may be available to assist a child who has special needs. If grandparents adopt their grandchildren, their income will generally will be counted by the public benefit programs they apply for on behalf of their grandchildren. If the biological parents do not consent to the adoption, the rights of the parents must be terminated in a legal proceeding by proving, among other things, abandonment, permanent neglect or mental illness. When a child is adopted, the biological parents do not have the right to visit the children.
Adoption is a formal legal arrangement granted by a court.
Generally, after the final decree of adoption is entered, the rights of the child's natural parents are terminated and will no longer exist. The grandparent becomes the child's legal parent with the same rights, duties and responsibilities as the natural parents. You will be able to adopt your grandchild only if the parents consent to the adoption or if the parents' rights are terminated. Therefore, if you adopt your grandchild, you will be your grandchild's legal parent. The child's parents will no longer have any rights to the child.