Opinion ID: 2640218
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Controlling Interpretation of K.S.A.2007 Supp. 59-2136(d)

Text: When it amended K.S.A. 59-2136(d) in 2006, the legislature expressly authorized a court to consider both the best interests and fitness of the nonconsenting parent in determining whether a stepparent adoption should be granted. Nevertheless, a district court's consideration of the best interests of the child is not divorced from the entire stepparent adoption statute, which explicitly requires that a natural parent's consent be given when that parent has assumed his or her parental responsibilities during the 2 years preceding the filing of the adoption petition. Reconciling these provisions, we find that the legislature implicitly determined that the best interests of a child is to protect the child's relationship with the child's natural parent when that parent has embraced his or her parental responsibilities, consistent with this court's previous interpretations of K.S.A. 59-2136(d). This is not to say that the 2006 amendment has no effect on stepparent adoptions. The additional language expressly authorizing a court to consider the best interests of the child in determining whether to grant a stepparent adoption provides the court with additional discretionary powers to consider the best interests of the child in denying the adoptioneven where a natural parent has not assumed the duties of a parent as articulated by this courtfor unique reasons. For example, a court may determine, based upon testimony of the child or other evidence, that the child desires to remain the son or daughter of the natural parent based upon the parent's promise of commitment to the child, based upon friction in the stepparent family, or a pattern of instability in the stepparent history. The provision does not, however, permit a court to override the requirement in K.S.A.2007 Supp. 59-2136(d) of mandatory consent when a natural parent has assumed his or her parental responsibilities. We note that the legislature, subject to the constitutional protection afforded a natural parent, could have expressly provided that best interests of the child be given overriding consideration by the court in a stepparent adoption. However, the legislature did not do so. In this case, the district court found that the natural father had been making regular contributions to the court-ordered child support by way of an automatic garnishment of his wages. In fact, the father paid the entire amount of child support due during the 2-year period preceding the adoption and made significant payments toward his arrearage during that same period. These payments, when coupled with the father's expressed interest at the adoption hearing that he would like the children to continue to have contact with his extended family and to meet his other children at some time, demonstrate, considering all of the circumstances, that the father did not fail to assume his parental duties in the 2 years preceding the adoption. K.S.A.2007 Supp. 59-2136(d) therefore required his consent to the stepparent adoption. He did not give that consent, and the district court appropriately denied the adoption petition. The decisions of the district court and Court of Appeals are affirmed.