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In re Appeal of J.G.R.

Dismissal of petition for adoption by maternal grandparents reversed; court erred in imposing requirement that grandparents meet the ordinary standards for third-party standing; consanguinity conferred standing upon grandparents to seek adoption even though relationship between them and their grandchildren did not include periods of extended custody or frequent visitation.

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�1 This appeal is from an order dismissing with prejudice a petition for adoption filed by the maternal grandparents of two minor children. The lower court determined that the grandparents did not have standing to adopt because of the limited nature of their relationship with their twin grandsons. We reverse.

�2 The facts, as supported by the record, are that the adoptees are J.T.T. and J.D.T., born on November 23, 1996. The appellant-maternal grandfather, J.G.R., is approximately 69 years of age, and appellant- maternal grandmother, M.R., is approximately 73 years of age.

�3 York County Children and Youth Services (hereinafter the “Agency”) has been involved with the children since they were born since both their mother and their father suffer from addiction problems, involving alcohol and drugs. Because the boys were born prematurely, they remained in the hospital for the first months of their lives. In January, 1997, the parties entered into a protective services agreement. The boys were adjudicated dependent on February 4, 1997, as a result of the mother’s admission into an alcohol rehabilitation program. At that time, the mother was permitted to retain custody of the children since the rehabilitation facility had accommodations for mothers with infant children. However, on or about February 14, 1997, physical custody was transferred to the maternal grandparents. After approximately one week, finding themselves not prepared to care for the infants, the maternal grandparents brought them to a friend of theirs in Adams County to act as the full-time caregiver. The Agency was notified of this change and it had several phone contacts with the friend starting on February 20, 1997. The Agency also conducted a field visit of the friend’s home on March 3, 1997, at which time the caseworker indicated that the infants were doing well. In late March, 1997, they were brought back to their maternal grandparents in York County.

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