Grandparents Rights

June 10, 2010

Grandparent rights do exist

When parents divorce the grandparents worry about many things, especially grandparents visitation rights. Some divorce situations can get ugly and the grandparents suddenly find themselves shut out of seeing their grandchildren. Grandparents may wonder many things during this time, such as how they can stand behind and support their child during this time with custody proceedings going on or if they should interfere if they feel their grandchild is in a dangerous situation. It is important to be informed. You can use resources like The Custody Center to find out what the laws are and what options you have. Despite what […]
June 8, 2010

Steps to take in order to gain your grandparents rights

When confronted with how to legitimately exert your grandparents rights, take the following steps in order. It is not easy to do thing this way, but under the law this is the process which will most likely result in you gaining your grandparents visitation rights or even contesting for custody. 1. Do everything you can to keep any hard feeling between you and the children’s custodial parent from the children themselves. Bite your tongue, if necessary, to keep those feelings in check and known only to you. It will not help your case if the children are aware of these […]
June 7, 2010

Grandparents rights now a complicated, contentious issue

The issues surrounding grandparents rights have really become remarkably controversial in recent years, as state after state has confronted the issues with legislation and individual grandparents have been forced to turn to the courts to maintain any semblance of grandparents rights. Today due to prevalent issues such as divorce, child abuse, or drug abuse grandparents are often the party left without any consideration. Often in a divorce the parents of a non-custodial parent end up cut off from their grandchildren. This can be particularly true if the grandparents and grandchildren live a far distance from each other. More and more, […]
June 6, 2010

Factors that go into determing grandparents rights

Many different factors go into determining grandparents visitation rights when it comes to grandparents, grandchildren, and the courts. There are certainly some general guidelines for grandparents rights, but each state has different laws and factors. Case law from the courts shows that most states take into account the following factors when determining grandparents visitation rights: *  The needs of the child, including considerations of physical and emotional health of the child, the safety of the child, and the welfare of the child. * The capability of the parents and/or grandparents to meet the needs of the child. *  The wishes […]
June 4, 2010

The Extent of Grandparents Rights

In the USA grandparents have always had limited rights to visitation and custody of their grandchildren, and in 2000 the US Supreme Court limited these rights even further through its decision in the case of Granville vs. Troxell. Currently the laws vary in each state. It isw important to understand, however, that there are still some situations where a grandparent may have legal rights to a grandchild. Some state laws do not recognize grandparents as appropriate parties to seek custody, so they generally have limited rights to do so. Unless a state law grants them specific rights to petition the […]
June 1, 2010

What to do if you are seeking custody of your grandchildren

If grandparents can prove to the courts that their home offers adequate resources for raising a child then they will be strongly considered. Overall, grandparent custody is a generally preferred alternative in most every state to foster care. The bottom line is that grandparents do have rights when it comes to custody and their grandchildren. The courts recognize them as an integral part of the family support system. The key however is for grandparent’s to make their wishes known and get involved with custody process. Check out No Greater Loss for the details you need to advance your custody case […]
May 31, 2010

The hard road to grandparents visitation rights

Grandparents often face a hard road in getting their rights. In the USA grandparents have always had limited rights to visitation and custody of their grandchildren, and in 2000 the US Supreme Court limited these rights even further through its decision in the case of Granville vs. Troxell. Currently the laws vary in each state. It isw important to understand, however, that there are still some situations where a grandparent may have legal rights to a grandchild. Some state laws do not recognize grandparents as appropriate parties to seek custody, so they generally have limited rights to do so. Unless […]
May 28, 2010

Scenarios which affect grandparents visitation rights

Grandparents visitation rights can differ in different states, and circumstances certainly matter. Generally, if it comes to the courtroom grandparents must prove that they should indeed have visitation rights with their grandchildren based on the particular circumstances of the case. Here are some different circumstances that grandparents often face when considering these issues: Previously Cared for Grandchild Grandparents can be granted grandparents visitation rights if they previously cared for the grandchild. In cases like this, the grandchildren may have stayed with the grandparents for a stable environment or if the parent was incapacitated by legal trouble or bad health. Grandparents […]
May 27, 2010

What factors does a judge consider for grandparent visitation?

Many state statutes contain no set guidelines for granting visitation rights to grandparents. In the absence of any such guidelines, most judges grant visitation when it is in the best interests of the child. The importance of preserving and maintaining an existing relationship between the child and their grandparents will be weighed against the custodial parent’s need to exercise their parental rights and veto such visitation if they desire. There are several factors which judges consider: Is there an existing, positive relationship between the grandparents and the grandchildren? What is the child’s preference, if any? Is the grandparent able to […]
May 25, 2010

Various state differences when dealing with grandparents visitation rights

One of the things that can be most confusing confusing when addressing the issue of grandparents visitation in court are the difference in state statues and practice, depending upon where you live. To figure out exactly which laws the courts in your states much follow when dealing with grandparents rights, visit The Custody Center. Different state statutes providing visitation to grandparents generally require that a number of conditions occur before grandparents visitation rights can be granted. For instance, the marital status of the parents must be considered in a majority of states before a court will evaluate the relevant factors […]