Do my parents become legal grandparents after I adopt my stepchild in Vermont?

Yes! When you adopt your stepchild in Vermont, your parents become the child's legal grandparents — with all the rights and recognition that entails.

What this means legally:

• Your parents are now the child's legal grandparents for all purposes
• Inheritance: The child can inherit from your parents (and vice versa) under intestate succession
• Medical decisions: In some situations, grandparents may be authorized to consent to medical care
• Family recognition: Schools, hospitals, and institutions recognize them as grandparents

What changes for the biological parent's family:

• The terminated biological parent's parents lose legal grandparent status
• They no longer have automatic visitation or other legal rights
• However, the family can maintain personal relationships if the custodial parents agree

Grandparent visitation rights in Vermont:

• Vermont has specific statutes regarding grandparent visitation
• After adoption, your parents may have standing to seek visitation if circumstances require it
• The terminated biological grandparents' visitation rights are generally terminated with the biological parent's rights

This is a beautiful benefit of adoption — it creates a complete family structure with legal recognition for everyone. Your child gains not just a parent, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins — your entire family.

Adoption: $349 + court fees | Start at stepparentadoption360.com/questionnaire