neil

November 14, 2010

A call to action for Caring Grandparents!

As you already know as a Caring Grandparent, caring about and loving your grandchild is the easy part. The hard comes when the rest of the world intervenes. As an advocate for Grandparents Rights I see hundreds of cases where the love of a grandparent for their grandchild is impeded in its tracks by the realities of the world we live in. That’s why today Caring Grandparents must also be active grandparents. I consider my latest book No Greater Loss […]

November 12, 2010

Improving your chances of gaining visitation rights

Grandparents concerned with visitation rights should know that there are no firm rules for determining when a court will grant visitation as every case is decided on its own facts and merits. Grandparents can, however, take steps to improve their chances of gaining visitation rights. In deciding visitation cases, courts often consider the previous relationship between the grandparent and grandchild, and they look favorably on evidence of a consistent and caring relationship. For this reason, a grandparent should try to […]

November 9, 2010

How do states determine custody?

States generally use one of two standards for determining custody. The courts in many states currently begin any proceedings by looking for the parental preference, meaning that the wishes of the child’s parents will be followed unless there is strongly significant evidence to the court that they should not be respected. The reason for this is that the constitution gives a fit parent the right to determine what is best for the well-being of their child. Generally a grandparent then […]

November 6, 2010

Games to Play with the Grandchildren

Grandparents Games can be a fun way for you as a grandparent to spend time with your grandchildren whether they are right beside you at the computer of far away from you at home. Here are some of the best sites online sites that feature games grandparents can play with their grandchildren. Grandparents Games to Play with the Grandchildren

November 5, 2010

Resources for Grandparents

Caring Grandparents www.caringgrandparents.com No Greater Loss, Neil Taft AARP 601 E Street NW Washington, DC 20049 888-OUR-AARP www.aarp.org Grandparents Rights Organization 1760 S. Telegraph Ste. 300 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 248-646-7177 www.grandparentsrights.org Grandparents Magazine www.grandparentsmagazine.net Grandparents for Children’s Rights www.uwex.edu/ces/gprg/qandas.html Grandparents Resource Center grc4usa.org Grandparents Today grandparentstoday.org Grandparents Raising Grandchildren www.raisingyourgrandchildren.com GRAND magazine www.grandmagazine.com Grandparents United DE, Inc. grandparentsunitedde.org Grandparent’s Web www.cyberparent.com/gran National Adoption Information Clearinghouse 330 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20447 703-352-3488 naic.acf.hhs.gov BOOKS Canfield, Jack & Hansen, […]

October 31, 2010

Getting the facts about grandparents custody rights

The rise in grandparents custody today can be attributed to many things, especially the percentage of marriages that end in divorce. You can add to that parental problems with drugs and alcohol, financial issues, criminal issues, and the premature death of parents. In these tough times many things can cause grandparents to have to take responsibility for their grandchildren. There is a lot of happiness that comes along with raising grandchildren, but there are also many problems that can come […]

October 30, 2010

The Case for Grandparents Rights

Looking at today’s flawed laws it is not hard to make the case for grandparents rights. By not maintaining adequate laws to protect our children, our legal system has miserably failed them. The antiquated laws governing grandparents rights need to be revised to reflect the times we live in. More and more children’s childhoods will be destroyed, leaving them to become part of the juvenile justice system or suffer at the hands of their parents or unfit guardians. If the […]

October 29, 2010

Should I hire an attorney to seek my grandparents rights?

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 […]

October 26, 2010

Grandparents Rights in Divorce Agreements

One of the best times to ask for grandparents visitation rights is when the parents of your grandchildren are in the process of getting a divorce. Timing of agreements is important. Your best chance at having visitation rights is if they are stated in the separation agreement and that normally becomes part of the divorce decree. If the case involves parents who are divorced the courts will look at the divorce settlement and the custody and visitation arrangements already made. […]