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A Stockton Grandparents’ Rights Lawyer Works to Keep Families Together
In certain cases where a grandparent has an existing bond with their grandchild, they may have legal rights to visitation. The lawyers at McKinley, Conger, Jolley & Galarneau, LLP, serving the Stockton, CA, area, have represented clients for decades, navigating California family law and protecting grandparents’’ rights. A lawyer fighting for grandparent’s rights pursues all legal remedies available to grandparents to protect their future and their relationship with their grandchildren.
In California, grandparents can have either custody or visitation rights with their grandchildren. In order for a grandparent to obtain these rights, certain legal standards must be met, and it takes a careful assembly of evidence to present to the Court in this regard. Grandparents need to prove a pre-existing relationship with the grandchild, and that disruption of that relationship is not in the best interests of the child.
What Is Needed to Seek Grandparent Rights?
In order for a grandparent to make a visitation request, several conditions must be in place:
Proof of an Existing Bond
A bond between the child and grandparents must exist, the relationship must be pre-existing, and the type of bond that if broken would be detrimental to the child.
Weighing the Child’s Best Interests
Visitation must be in the best interests of the child, which is directly related to the relationship enjoyed by the child and grandparents. Each case is unique, and what is best for your case may not be the same as in other matters.
What Conditions Should be Met to Request Grandparent Rights?
The conditions of each case vary, but the Court will entertain a request for grandparent rights in certain scenarios:
- The parents are separated.
- The location of one of the parents has remained unknown for at least a period of one month.
- One parent agrees to or joins in on the request for grandparent rights and visitation for their child.
- The child is not currently living with either parent.
- A stepparent has adopted the child.
- The child has a parent who has been placed in an institution involuntarily or is in jail.
When any one of these conditions is present, the Court will hear the grandparents’ request for visitation. When the grandparent is able to prove the two elements needed to seek grandparent rights, a pre-existing relationship and that continuation of that relationship through visitation is in the best interest of the child, grandparent rights are typically granted.
Does California Have Laws Protecting Grandparents’ Rights?
Establishing a relationship and a circumstance that gives rise to the right to seek rights is governed by statute. The statute requires the grandparent to serve a copy of the request on each of the parents, any stepparent, or any person with the rights of physical custody over the child. The case will be ordered to mediation and if the parties are unable to come to agreement during the mediation process, the Court will step in and hear the matter.
Factors such as the safety, health (both physically and mentally), and history of the grandparent will be considered when the Court makes its final decision. It may become necessary to take testimony from the child (if the child is old enough), the grandparents, and others familiar with the family. Records of prior drug or alcohol use, or domestic abuse are also taken under advisement and can negatively impact a bid for grandparent visitation rights.
In order to protect your rights as a grandparent, contact a family law attorney at our firm to discuss your options.
