Sacramento, California Grandparents' Rights Attorney
In California, grandparents do not necessarily have legal rights to visitation. That means that if a child's parents don't want to allow their child to interact with his or her grandparents, they may have no legal basis to seek visitation rights. However, in more extreme circumstances, grandparents may have the right to take custody of their grandchild, due to both parents detriment to the child.
At the law offices of Hugh O. Allen, we have handle family law issues involving the rights of grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members for over 30 years in Sacramento, California. We provide caring, knowledgeable, experienced service. To schedule an appointment, call today at 916-852-0222 or just contact our firm online.
When Grandparents Raise Grandchildren
In many cases, grandparents do more to raise their grandchildren than the child's biological parents, even without having established a formal legal relationship. If the parents become neglectful, abusive, or begin to engage in criminal activities, your preexisting role as a caregiver can help you gain legal custody of the grandchildren.
This holds true for aunts, uncles and any other family member who acts as a de facto parent of the child. A "de facto parent" is someone who takes on the responsibility of fulfilling the role of a parent to such an extent that the law can consider them as being like a parent.
Gaining Custody of a Grandchild
If you believe that both parents are a detriment to the child's upbringing because of illegal, neglectful or abusive behavior, you can contact Child Protection Services to investigate. If they determine that both parents are detrimental to the child's development and well-being, they can remove the child from the household.
At that point, they have to find a guardian with whom to place the child. Before placing a child in the foster care system, they look to see if any family members are able and willing to raise the child first. Concerned and caring grandparents are usually favored.
If you wish to eventually adopt the child, you first have to end the biological parents' legal relationship with that child during a termination of parental rights proceeding.
At the law offices of Hugh O. Allen, we handle grandparents' rights cases with dedication and care. If you would like to talk about grandparents' rights with a lawyer, call 916-852-0222 or contact our firm online today.
This does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
