February 16, 2011
Over the last two decades the numbers of children being raised by their grandparents has increased dramatically. Reasons for grandparents increasing their roles to become parents include things as diverse as parents being incarcerated, drug and alcohol abuse, divorec and abandonment and mental health issues, among others. Grandparents are keeping families together and serving as a safety net to keep children out of the formal foster care system. However, many grandparents face obstacles not encountered by biological parents, like the […]
February 7, 2011
A Wichita state senator and family members of abused and displaced children went before the Senate Judiciary Committee today to try to enhance the status of grandparents in child-custody courts. Senate Bill 52 would automatically establish grandparents as interested parties in cases when their grandchildren are removed from their homes. At present, grandparents only receive notice of and status to be heard in such proceedings when they request it. Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita, who is sponsoring the bill, told the […]
February 7, 2011
There are two principal situations when the custodial rights of grandparents come into play. One is when the grandparents wants custodial rights over the child’s real or adoptive parents. The other is when the grandparent wants custody over persons who are not the child’s real or adoptive parents, but who presently have custody. 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 […]
January 25, 2011
When it comes to grandparents rights different states have different standards. This is because the 2000 Troxell Supreme Court decision splintered the laws and advocates of fairness in grandparents rights have been trying to catch up ever since. All 50 states currently have some type of “grandparent visitation” statute through which grandparents, and sometimes others (foster parents and stepparents, for example), can ask a court to grant them the legal right to maintain their relationships with loved children. But state laws vary greatly […]
January 13, 2011
Grandparents custody is occurring with greater frequency today due to many social factors. Certainly, the number of grandparents raising their grandchildren in their homes is skyrocketing. Grandparents who take care of their grandchildren regularly, whether through a court order or because their children are unfit, may want to think about getting custody. Without legal custody, grandparents may find themselves unable to get proper medical care or take advantage of certain benefits their grandchildren may be entitled to. There are several […]
January 10, 2011
Seeking to obtain grandparents visitation rights can be a very trying event for any grandparent. When we usually see our grandchildren on a normal basis and that is taken away it can leave us very sad. We miss them very much because they are so much a part of our lives. We love the relationship we have with our grandchildren. My book No Greater Loss addresses the issue of grandparents visitation rights in detail. Knowing just what you should do […]
January 3, 2011
A grandparent may seek legal custody of their grandchildren for numerous reasons. The simplicity or complexity of this will depend on individual circumstances and whether or not both the parents and grandparents agree that the children should be in the custody of the grandparents. Legal custody is awarded by the courts and is not merely a written agreement between two parties. If both parties are not in agreement, the grandparent or other relative must prove to the court that it […]
December 23, 2010
Researching your grandparents visitation rights it not as hard as you might think. Whatever aim you will have, you may need tips, ideas, and good advice to assist you to achieve it. It’ll be much easier to reach your goal if you know what to do and what to stay clear of. Presented here are three important guidelines to help you achieve your goals. Usually when you use the following pointers you’ll enhance your possibilities to have improved final results. […]
December 16, 2010
Misunderstanding of the custody rights of grandparents is common, which is why I have tried to focus on explaining those rights and expanding on them in No Greater Loss. Though each is unique, all fifty states have laws regarding the custody rights of grandparents. Custody rights of grandparents may be applicable in cases where a parent or both parents die, or in cases of divorce or separation. Custody rights of grandparents may also apply when the child has lived with […]