April 1, 2011
A frequently asked question about grandparents rights is whether a grandparent who has been alienated from their grandchild by the child’s parents can seek visitation privileges with their grandchild. Whether a grandparent has a right to visit a grandchild is sometimes a complicated issue that varies by state. Whether or not a grandparent can petition the court for visitation rights to their grandchildren depends location and upon the circumstances present in their case. I go into great detail about these issues in my book No Greater Loss which examines these issues in depth. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court held […]
March 30, 2011
The courts take certain factors into account when dealing with grandparents rights cases. Although courts vary from state to state there are general consistencies on what courts and judges consider before awarding grandparents rights. Here is a summary of some of the factors a court considers when it decides whether or not grandparents visitation or custody is in the best interest of the child. I go into much greater detail about these factors in my book No Greater Loss. The existing relationship between the grandparent and the child. It is up to the grandparent to prove that there clearly exists […]
March 28, 2011
All family professionals say that custody of any child after an agonizing separation or an ongoing divorce case is definitely one of the most heart wrenching and emotionally draining encounters any parent or grandparent could face. This is because the process involves not just adults who have the skills to move forward and go on to live a new life but more focused on what is in store for kids after the inevitable break up. Parents and grandparents are closely involved in the happinesss of the children. If you are a grandparents who has a child in the process of divorce […]
March 26, 2011
Many grandparents who find themselves in situations where they are seeking custody of their grandchildren wonder if they should hire an attorney. Although you will find a lot of information about how to select and obtain an attorney in my book No Greater Loss I can give you some general observations here. The first question you must ask when considering filing for custody of your grandchildren is what is at stake? Once you decide on the importance of your efforts that should help you decide whether to hire an attorney. Though there are no hard and fast rules about hiring […]
March 23, 2011
About 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce today. When divorce takes place in the family the separation of the family unit affects everyone, and each person is affected differently. There is blame and hurt from everyone in the family. When parents separate or divorce the grandparents visitation rights affected. Grandparents are, of course, concerned about custody issues and they also want to help protect their grandchildren. Grandparents should be able to have a continued relationship with their grandparents to have some normality in their lives. Grandparents can be of great value at this time. Just because there is […]
March 21, 2011
I wanted to let all you Kindle users know that my comprehensive grandparents rights book No Greater Loss is now available for Kindle users at Amazon.com. No Greater Loss is a new book by grandparents rights advocate Neil Taft which addresses the troubled state of grandparents rights in the USA, giving readers a across-the-board overview as well as advocating for greater recognition of the need of grandchildren and the rights of grandparents. Reading No Greater Loss will add dimensions to you knowledge base when it comes to grandparents rights issues, as well as help you understand the context in which […]
March 20, 2011
Grandparents rights are becoming more and more important in our society, as the statistics clearly show. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 7 million children living with a grandparent in 2009, which is almost 10 percent of all children in the United States. The reasons vary as much as the families themselves, but the number of grandchildren living with their grandparents (one or both) continues to climb in the U.S. and it is important that grandparents understand their legal rights when it comes to custody and visitation issues. While grandparents don’t have guaranteed legal rights to their grandchildren, […]
March 16, 2011
There are many reasons and circumstances where a grandparent may feel the need to investigate grandparent’s rights over their grandchildren. With high divorce rates, teen pregnancy issues, drug problems, abandonment, abuse and sometimes the death of a parent or parents, many grandparents feel the need to step up and help out. Grandparent’s rights can be tricky, though, and often it’s hard to know where to start or get help. I discuss all of these issues in detail in my book No Greater Loss. Sometimes the parent or parents of the child are in agreement and believe that the child should […]
March 14, 2011
Many people start the journey toward learning about grandparents rights by asking the simplest question first: “Do grandparents have rights?” When you’re looking at the question “Do grandparents have rights?” you must look to the state of the American family and how that impacts older Americans. The past 30 years have seen tremendous changes when it comes to the American family. Consider these trends, from Professor Herbert S. Klein: Prior to 1980, births outside of marriage were less than 10 percent of the total number of births. The percentage of adults who have never married is at historic levels, with […]
March 8, 2011
Although most grandparents find the idea of being unable to see their grandchildren inconceivable. In actuality, however, thousands of grandparents have faced the loss of their visitation rights. Some have successfully negotiated, either in or out of court, for grandparents rights, including their right to see their grandchildren. Others have had to face the sad reality of going for years without the prospect of a visit. State statutes on the subject of grandparent visitation rights vary from statutes considered to be permissive to those considered to be stringent. The Supreme Court case which applies to grandparenting visitation rights, Troxel v. […]