Grandparents Rights

Should I hire an attorney to seek my grandparents rights?

Published by
neil

Although you will find more information about how to select and obtain an attorney in my book No Greater Loss 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.

Although there are no hard and fast rules about hiring an attorney, the following general rules will likely apply to your case if you have decided to apply for custody of your grandchild:

*If your case is going to be contested, that is if another party has or is seeking custody (most likely one or both of your grandchild’s parents) then you will likely need to hire an attorney. This is an absolute in cases where you are charging parental abuse or neglect, and likely the best decision in any case where your attempt to gain custody will be contested by a third-party.

*If your case is not going to be contested, that is in the case that the child’s parent(s) are absent due to being deceased, incarcerated, or totally absent from your grandchild’s life you will need to use your best judgment as to whether to hire an attorney because one may or not be needed. Attorneys can still be extremely helpful to you even in these cases through familiarity with the system and being alert to how the state courts function where your child resides.

Make sure you check out No Greater Loss for the full insight into finding the right attorney for your grandparents rights situation.

neil

Recent Posts

Loving Them From Afar: How Long-Distance Grandparents Stay Close

Distance does not have to mean disconnection. Long-distance grandparents who stay intentional, creative, and consistent…

3 days ago

Be a Good Seer and a Good Sayer

Your words have the power to shape who your grandchildren believe they are. Learn the…

4 weeks ago

For Our Grandkids

Frederick Douglass said it's easier to build strong children than repair broken men. Here's how…

1 month ago

It’s All About the Child

When the debate over grandparents' rights drowns out the child's voice, something has gone wrong.…

1 month ago

When Grandparents Become Parents Again

Nearly 2 million grandparents are raising grandchildren in the U.S. today. This updated guide covers…

2 months ago

Changing the Only Thing We Can Change

As caring grandparents, we live in both a precarious and a powerful position. The grandparents…

2 months ago