Spending time with grandchildren is a gift. Unfortunately, when circumstances arise, such as divorce or the death of one of the parents, grandparents may find themselves in a challenging situation.
A parent could shut the grandparents out of the children’s lives without cause. When that happens, while the family courts allow you to seek the right to regular visitation, the standard a grandparent must meet is considerably high and difficult to satisfy.
You do not have to navigate this complex process alone; one of our seasoned family attorneys can help. Call a Southbury grandparents’ rights lawyer if you need legal guidance with your case.
Connecticut law provides a right to visitation for grandparents under certain stringent circumstances. The law gives a lot of weight to the rights of parents to make essential decisions for their children. Grandparents meeting the statutory requirement may file a motion to petition for court-ordered visitation rights, and the court will consider whether it is in the children’s best interest.
The party seeking legal visitation rights must petition the court and provide evidence that a visitation order benefits the children. According to the information provided by the Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Library, Grandparents may file a request with the Superior Court in Connecticut for the right to have regular visitation with minor children.
The judge will consider the petitioner’s circumstances, the relationship they share with the children, and whether denying visitation would harm the minors. During a consultation, an attorney in Southbury could explain the applicable laws and answer questions about grandparents’ rights.
When grandparents wish to pursue legal custody, they must establish to the court that remaining with one or both of their parents is not in the children’s best interest.
This requires significant evidence, such as proof of abuse or mental health issues, including addiction, and establishing they have a healthy relationship with the child. When seeking physical custody, the court considers the following factors:
A Southbury lawyer can help prepare a powerful case to achieve the grandparents’ desired outcome of having the right to see their grandchildren.
Obtaining your rights to regular visitation with your grandchildren is often overwhelming and emotionally charged. While family law statutes do not provide automatic visitation rights to grandparents, if the circumstances meet the high threshold provided by statute, grandparents can submit a request to the court for these privileges.
While you are not legally required to seek counsel to represent you, a Southbury grandparents’ rights lawyer can provide invaluable support. We can help you through the process and fight for a fair and favorable result. Call our reliable legal team today to discuss your case details and schedule a consultation.
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