Grandparents have the right to see their grandchildren even after the parents’ marriage breaks down. However, to exercise these rights, they may need to prove them in court. If you are facing a disagreement about visitation, you must work with a qualified grandparents’ rights attorney. Otherwise, you may not be able to see your grandchildren as often as you would like. An experienced attorney can help you understand how visitation and grandparents’ rights in Fairfield work and guide you through the case. With legal assistance, you can fight for the opportunity to maintain a healthy relationship with your grandchildren.
In Fairfield, grandparents and great-grandparents have the right to ask the court for visitation with a child. This is possible if they are related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption.
To grant visitation rights, a court must find that the grandparent has a parent-like relationship with the grandchild, and denying visitation would seriously harm this child. To identify whether such a relationship exists, the court examines several factors, including:
The court always makes its decision based on what is best for the child. If the child is old enough to express an informed opinion, the court can take that into account.
When setting visitation terms, the court may also consider how visits would affect the child’s relationship with their parents or guardians. It will also check whether there has been any domestic violence involved in any relationships between the child and adults around them.
The termination of grandparents’ rights in Fairfield does not always happen when a marriage breaks down. In some cases, a person may decide to keep their parents or parents-in-law away from the child for other reasons. This can involve not allowing them to see each other and preventing alternative means of communication, such as calls and texts.
The first step to take when this happens is to contact an experienced attorney specializing in grandparents’ rights. Since visitation-related matters can often be emotional, working with a legal team can help the grandparent avoid making unfortunate mistakes.
An attorney could help gather relevant evidence that demonstrates to the court why the grandparent is entitled to visitation rights. They can also fight against unfair decisions and negotiate with the parents’ legal team if necessary.
It is important to understand that grandparents have rights. However, fighting for them requires significant effort and often resources. The grandparent should record all the time they spend with their grandchild, even if this time is scarce. They should document each visit and phone call, as well as the details of these interactions. These records can become valuable evidence in court.
An attorney in Fairfield can help collect other types of evidence and guide the grandparent through the case—protecting their right to visitation with their grandchild.
If you are a grandparent being denied time with your grandchild, it’s important to speak with an attorney right away. Securing visitation and grandparents’ rights in Fairfield can be complex, requiring strong evidence and thorough legal preparation.
At Dolan Divorce Lawyers, PLLC, we’ve successfully helped many grandparents reestablish meaningful connections with their grandchildren. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we could support your case.
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