Opinion ID: 1176033
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Social Security Payments

Text: We next consider the district court's determination that the social security payments received by the mother for the benefit of the children based on the father's disability did not rebut the K.S.A. 59-2136(d) presumption. K.S.A. 59-2136(d) is controlling. In a stepparent adoption, if a mother consents to the adoption of a child who has a presumed father under subsection (a)(1), (2) or (3) of K.S.A. 38-1114 and amendments thereto, or who has a father as to whom the child is a legitimate child under prior law of this state or under the law of another jurisdiction, the consent of such father must be given to the adoption unless such father has failed or refused to assume the duties of a parent for two consecutive years next preceding the filing of the petition for adoption or is incapable of giving such consent. In determining whether a father's consent is required under this subsection, the court may disregard incidental visitations, contacts, communications or contributions. In determining whether the father has failed or refused to assume the duties of a parent for two consecutive years next preceding the filing of the petition for adoption, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that if the father, after having knowledge of the child's birth, has knowingly failed to provide a substantial portion of the child support as required by judicial decree, when financially able to do so, for a period of two years next preceding the filing of the petition for adoption, then such father has failed or refused to assume the duties of a parent. (Emphasis added.) The italicized language concerning a rebuttable presumption was added in 1991. L. 1991, ch. 167, § 1. For a discussion of the history of K.S.A. 59-2136(d), see S.E.B., 257 Kan. at 269. We focus on whether the monthly social security payments qualify as child support under K.S.A. 59-2136(d). It is undisputed that the father was ordered to pay $254 per month in child support. Other than the social security payments, the father said he paid some child support but did not have a specific amount and provided no documentation. The Court of Appeals rejected the father's reliance on Andler v. Andler, 217 Kan. 538, 538 P.2d 649 (1975), and In re Marriage of Callaghan, 19 Kan. App.2d 335, 869 P.2d 240 (1994). Both cases held that social security payments are to be considered in the determination of what amount of child support is owed and credited. The Court of Appeals believed Andler and Callaghan were distinguishable because [n]one of these cases deal with an adoption situation. 24 Kan. App.2d at 215. In a K.S.A. 59-2136(d) adoption, the court examines whether the nonconsenting parent has assumed parental duties during the 2 years preceding the filing of the petition for adoption. The social security payments should therefore be examined in the context of whether a parent has assumed his or her parental duties. Andler and Callaghan examined social security payments in the context of the parties' resources. Andler, 217 Kan. at 544; Callaghan, 19 Kan. App.2d at 337. We acknowledge the Court of Appeals factual distinction between Andler and Callaghan and this case. However, Andler holds that social security payments made to children based on a father's disability constitute a satisfaction of child support payments required by a divorce decree. In Andler we held: [W]here a father who has been ordered to make child support payments becomes totally and permanently disabled, and unconditional Social Security payments for the benefit of the minor children are paid to the divorced mother, the father is entitled to credit for such payments by the government against his liability for child support under the divorce decree. 217 Kan. at 544. We apply the Andler rationale to this case. K.S.A. 59-2136(d) allows the court to disregard incidental visits, contacts, communications, or contributions. The father may rebut the 59-2136(d) presumption that he failed to assume parental duties by showing that he provided a substantial portion of the judicially ordered child support. Here, the father does not directly take issue with the court's finding that his contacts with the children were incidental. He asserts, however, that the social security disability payments received by the mother for the children's support serve to rebut the presumption that he did not assume parental duties. We agree. While we may disregard incidental visits, contacts, communications, or contributions under a strict construction of K.S.A. 59-2136(d), the father's contributions here were not incidental. Incidental has been defined in this context as casual, of minor importance, insignificant, and of little consequence. In re Adoption of McMullen, 236 Kan. 348, Syl. ¶ 1, 691 P.2d 17 (1984). At the time of the hearing, the monthly contributions, which were backdated to 1990, were more than the court-ordered child support. In F.A.R., 242 Kan. 231, interpreting an earlier, similar version of K.S.A. 59-2136(d), we affirmed the district court's denial of a stepparent adoption. In F.A.R., the father was incarcerated and the mother refused to force the children to visit their father in prison. The father was not ordered to pay child support, nor did he. 242 Kan. at 239. In F.A.R., we reiterated: The duties of a parent addressed by the statute include not only the common-law duty of financial support, but also the `natural and moral duty of a parent to show affection, care and interest toward his or her child. [Citations omitted.] 242 Kan. at 239. Here, the father has provided financial support for his children whether it be by accident or design. Both the district court and the Court of Appeals appeared to focus on F.A.R.'s recognition of the natural and moral duty of a parent to show affection, care and interest toward his or her child. Both courts concluded that the father's financial support was not sufficient to overcome his complete lack of love and affection duties. 24 Kan. App.2d at 219, 221. Under the facts of this case, while there was little or no affection, care, or interest shown to the children, the father did provide a substantial portion of the children's support. The father's consent was therefore necessary for the completion of this stepparent adoption.