Domestic Relations-Stepparent Adoption-Weight of Evidence

Staff Report//February 25, 2026//

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Grandparent appealed the trial court’s judgment granting a stepparent adoption, arguing that the judgment was against the weight of the evidence and that the trial court misapplied the law governing stepparent adoptions.

Where the totality of the evidence could support the trial court’s determination that granting adoption was in the child’s best interests and where the trial court’s alleged misinterpretation of the law stemmed from its inclusion of language in the judgment specifically requested by grandparent, there was no error.

Judgment is affirmed.

In re the Adoption of: K.L.C.B. (MLW No. 84394/Case No. WD88045 – 13 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, Chapman, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Jackson County, Phillips, J. (Laurie Snell, Kansas City and Allison Kort, Kansas City for appellant) (Michaela Shelton-Sinkhorn, Overland Park, KS and Anthony Bonuchi, Kansas City for respondent)