Grandparents Beware

May 6, 2010

Get info on your grandparents rights BEFORE you seek an attorney

So you have successfully exerted your grandparents rights……now what? The reality is that certain practical considerations come into play.  You must know that there is the potential for financial problems to arise at any time.  Depending on if you are still holding down a job or have already retired it can be a different situation for everyone.  When you are raising your grandchildren, unexpected expenses may come up.  Some of these expenses are beyond your control such as childcare and […]
May 1, 2010

Factors which go into grandparents rights

Courts convene to consider the extent of grandparents rights in any custody or visitation case, the one huge overriding factor is the standard of Best Interest of the Child. Courts in every jurisdiction across the country must consider the best interests of the child standard  when granting custody or visitation rights to a grandparent. The factors which determine that “best interest” are of primary importance to the court when considering what to do. Basically, if you are involved in this […]
April 18, 2010

Things you should know about your grandparents rights

This message is not intended to scare you. Actually, I hope it will instead inform you enough and give you some concrete ideas about what is out there for grandparents to enjoy. At the same time, I want to make you aware that your grandparents rights are important when it comes to these matters. Grandparents are as a group about 1/3rd of all adults in America. They contribute in extraordinary proportions to their grandkid’s well being. A few examples according to […]
April 11, 2010

Grandparents rights in case things change

I thank God every day that I don’t need to assert my grandparents rights on behalf of my grandchildren. It is heart rending to read about some circumstances that put children in volatile and dangerous situations due to a change in the structure of their functioning family unit. These changes can occur because of the death of one of the parents or (as is true in one half of the marriages) a divorce that results in an extended family and […]
April 9, 2010

When grandparents become the parents again

If you are a grandparent then you already know the joy of a grandchild.  Your own child (the grandkid’s parent) may be amazed at how the strictest parent they ever knew is now the biggest pushover they have ever known.  Even though you said no to your kids about everything  the word might never out of your mouth now for your grandchildren. However, many grandparents have taken the grandchildren into their homes. This changes things a great deal and the […]
March 17, 2010

Grandparents must be aware of court issues before making agreements for grandparents visitation rights

In most situations where a grandparent goes to court in an attempt to secure grandparents visitation rights, it is assumed that there must be some animosity amongst the respective family members. The rationale for that is that if such animosity did not exist, there would be no need for the intervention of the court. Case histories from the courts have demonstrated that even when the grandparents are awarded a grandparents visitation schedule, the parents who oppose are often likely not […]
March 1, 2010

Is your state restrictive or permissive when it comes to grandparents visitation rights?

One important aspect when it comes to the grandparents visitation rights is whether the state you live in is “restrictive” or “permissive” when it comes to the rights you have to see your grandchildren. All 50 states currently have some type of grandparent visitation rights statute through which grandparents can ask a court to grant them the legal right to maintain their relationships with their grandchildren. But individual state laws vary greatly when it comes to the crucial details, such as who […]
February 25, 2010

Grandparent visitation rights can vary state to state

It’s important for grandparent to understand their grandparent rights when dealing with visitation issues. Grandparent visitation is something that should always be available and yet is often not in difficult circumstances if you aren’t informed of your grandparents rights. It’s also important to know that the states differ on the extent to which parents have a right to control grandparent visitation. Some states focus on what is in the “best interest of the child” in making decisions about whether or […]
February 25, 2010

If you are caring for your grandchildren, you need to protect your grandparents rights

Grandparents who are actually caring for their grandchildren should take affirmative steps to protect their grandparents rights. This can often be done by obtaining legal guardianship over the grandchildren, or by actually obtaining an order of custody. Absent a formal legal grant of rights, grandparents may find it much more difficult to preserve their relationship with their grandchildren, or to protect their grandchildren from being restored to the custody of a parent who is not ready to assume responsibility for […]