In re Adoption of Ridenour

This case presents two issues for our consideration. First, we must decide whether the trial judge abused his discretion in denying the appellants’ adoption petitions. Second, we must decide whether the trial judge erred in considering grandparent post-adoption visitation rights.

As to the first issue, we find that the trial judge abused his discretion by failing to base his adoption decisions on a consideration of the best interests of the children involved. In order for an appellate court to find that a trial court committed an abuse of discretion, the court must find more than an error of…