Child custody battles affect the entire family, which includes the grandparents. Hearing your child is getting divorced is not an easy burden to bear. So many grandparents have questions about how they can help their own child and if they will be able to continue seeing their grandchildren. There are also circumstances where the grandparents need to get involved in seeking custody of their grandchildren. There are many questions, as a grandparent, you may want answers to. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions regarding grandparent’s rights dealing with child custody.
How Can I Be There For My Child?
There is no one particular answer to this question given that fact that not all cases are the same. The most common answer to this however, is to be there for your child as a support system. Let them know you are there to listen to them without making any judgments. Your child will need your help now more than ever so try to be available when you can to help with babysitting or financial burdens. If you are not sure you should ask your child how you can help them, a majority will just tell you.
Do I Have Visitation Rights?
The laws regarding grandparent’s visitation rights vary from state to state. However, the grandparent usually doesn’t have legally binding visitation. The only time this generally changes is if the grandparent is awarded custody or if the courts see a justifiable reason for visitation. Your best option is to keep in close contact and keep a healthy relationship with both parents.
How Can I Talk About These Issues With My Grandchildren?
The answer to this depends on your grandchild. Many grandparents want to be able to do all that they can for their family, so it is only natural to want to be there for your grandchild as well. The answer may not be in explaining the situation to the child in depth. It may actually be that you just simply let them talk, as they need someone to listen to them too. Just remember to speak appropriately for a child, no negative remarks on either party and try to be as unbiased as possible. This will help eliminate the possibility of confusing the child and causing other problems to arise.
Can I Get Legal Custody?
There are certain circumstances where a grandparent can get custody of their grandchildren. If you have valid proof that both parents are unfit or incapable, you will need to provide it to the courts. You will also need to prove that it is in the child’s best interest and you have been a part of their life for some time.
What Is The Difference Between Guardianship And Custody?
There are many grandparents who chose to file for guardianship rather than custody because it is much simpler. Guardianship allows you to make legal decisions and be a parental figure to the child. This generally occurs when the parent and child move in with you, which will then allow both you and the child’s parent to be responsible for the child.
Additional Legal Source: For more information on child custody please visit WurtzelLaw.com