grandparents custody rights

October 6, 2011

Grandparents rights in Texas

Texas’ concept of grandparents rights is in line with many of the other states I have examined. As always, to get the best overview of grandparents rights in the USA search through my website Caring Grandparents and read my book No Greater Loss. It pretty much goes without saying that everything behind grandparents rights can be incredibly emotional.When grandparents have to seek legal intervention to just see their grandchildren, emotions abound on all sides of the spectrum with the grandparents, […]
October 6, 2011

Neil Taft in the La Mesa Patch Moms Council patch, on grandparents rights!

Every Wednesday, the La Mesa Patch Moms Council poses a question and invites your wisdom—and chimes in themselves. This Wed they choose to let me speak about grandparents rights, and add their views…. LMPMC: Neil Taft on Grandparents Rights
October 4, 2011

Grandparents rights in Michigan

Grandparents in Michigan are entitled to grandparents custody and visitation under certain circumstances, but their rights may be subject to parental consent. Primarily, it is the child’s parents’ decision to determine whether a grandparent may visit with a child or not. Most often, grandparents will need to assert their rights only if they have been denied visitation by a child’s parents or custodian. Grandparents’ rights must serve the best interests of the child. If the child’s parent, who is related […]
September 15, 2011

Grandparents raising grandchildren rally in Washington, DC

Across the country hundreds of thousands of grandparents raising grandchildren do not get sufficient rights or help. They gladly take on the role as the primary caregiver, but they hope to gain some of the same support afforded to foster parents. Grandparents from across the state and country are rallying to raise awareness about the lack of support they receive, in contrast to the foster care system, when raising grandchildren. The fourth annual Grand Rally is taking place today in […]
September 6, 2011

US census data: Grandparents raising grandchildren grows

Grandparents raising grandchildren is not a new phenomenon. It is, however, a rapidly growing one. Census data shows that the incidence of increased grandparent involvement in raising their own grandchildren is getting more and more common. As of 2010 about 6 million children, nearly 8 percent of all children, were recorded as living with grandparents identified as head of household. That number is nearly twice what it was in the 2000 census. Sometimes grandparents must take over a child who […]
August 17, 2011

When can grandparents be awarded custody of their grandchildren

Grandparents can be awarded custody of their grandchild or grandchildren under certain circumstances. However, there will need to be a compelling reason for grandparents custody to be awarded  if either parent of the child is alive and capable of or interested in parenting the child. There is a strong presumption in favor of a parent’s right to be a parent, which means that grandparents will have a strong burden of proof to meet if they wish to obtain custody while […]
August 15, 2011

Grandparents raising grandchildren should consider their situation and their rights

The number of children being raised by their grandparents has risen sharply since the start of the recession in 2007, according to a Pew Research Center study that found one in 10 children in the US now lives with a grandparent. Many people have a lot of questions when it comes to grandparents custody and the consideration of grandparents rights who are caring for their grandchildren. According to the Pew study, almost two-thirds of the grandparents who are primarily responsible […]
June 15, 2011

Grandparents rights in different states

Many states today claim that when it comes to grandparents custody rights the grandparents have no rights to visit, see or speak with their grandchildren unless the child’s parents permit such. Only if a grandparent believes that their grandchild’s welfare is in serious danger can they notify the authorities and potentially petition the court for custody of the child. This is not true, however, in all states. Some states have permissive grandparents rights laws. Such individual states generally use one […]