Glendale Grandparents’ Rights Attorney
Divorce can be difficult for more than just the parents and children. It can affect everyone in their sphere, especially the grandparents who want to continue to have a relationship with their grandkids. In California, grandparents have the right to see their grandkids. A Glendale grandparents’ rights lawyer understands your rights as a grandparent and is here to help you protect them.
How We Can Help
At Khalaf Law Group, we have years of experience helping those who are going through a divorce, including the grandparents. We have a clear understanding of grandparents’ rights laws in California and are here to make sure yours are safeguarded. Using this knowledge of the law, we can not only guide you through the process but also make sure your voice is heard.
We are passionate about helping you keep your relationship with your grandchildren strong. Having worked on other grandparents’ rights cases, we can tailor our experience to your unique circumstances. Wanting to continue having a relationship with your grandchild is admirable and valid. We can help you navigate the complex legal system and negotiate on your behalf.
Grandparents’ Rights Laws
Grandparents have the right to petition for visitation if they had a preexisting relationship with the grandchild that would continue to benefit the child’s welfare. The court also focuses on the parents’ wishes and whether a relationship with the child’s grandparent would be in their best interest.
In California, if parents are married and/or living together, then the right to decide if grandparents can see their grandchildren belongs to the parents. Grandparents have the right to petition under the following circumstances:
- The parents are living apart permanently or indefinitely
- One parent is absent
- One of the parents joins the grandparents’ petition
- The child doesn’t live with either parent
- The child was adopted by a step-parent
- One of the parents is involuntarily institutionalized or incarcerated
In California, around 235,657 grandparents have custody of their grandchildren. There is a difference between visitation and custody. If someone has custody of a child, then they have the legal right to make decisions for the child’s welfare.
A grandparent receiving custody of their grandchild can be challenging because it would require proving that the parents are unable to care for the child and that living with the grandparent would be in the child’s best interest.
Visitation, on the other hand, is easier to accomplish because it allows the grandparents to spend time with their grandchildren without affecting the parents’ custodial rights. Visitation is about maintaining the bond between grandparent and grandchild.
Hire a Grandparents’ Rights Lawyer
The process to petition for visitation and grandparents’ rights in California can be complex and requires knowledge of the grandparents’ rights laws. To petition, a grandparent must:
- Have legal standing to do so
- Demonstrate an existing bond with their grandchild
- Prove that having visitation would be in the best interest of the child
- Fill out a variety of forms and documentation
- File the forms with the court and pay court filing fees
- Attend mediation with the parents and a mediator
If you hire a grandparents’ rights lawyer, they can help guide you through the entire process, including:
- Help you figure out if you have legal standing
- Gather evidence that demonstrates your preexisting bond with your grandchild and how visitation would be in their best interest
- Prepare the proper forms and file them for you, ensuring they are done correctly and filed in the correct place
- Represent you at mediation, whether at the Glendale Courthouse on East Broadway or elsewhere
- Negotiate fiercely on your behalf
A grandparents’ rights lawyer is dedicated to preserving your rights as a grandparent. They want to help protect your precious relationship with your grandchild. Hiring a grandparents’ rights lawyer means hiring someone who advocates for you with the legal knowledge and experience to back you up.
FAQs
Q: Can You Petition for Grandparent Rights in California?
A: Yes, grandparents can petition for grandparents’ rights in California with the family court. They must be able to show that they had a preexisting relationship with their grandchild prior to the divorce. Then the court will decide if having a relationship with their grandchild will benefit the child, while also respecting the parents’ right to make decisions for their child. The petition has a few moving parts. Speak to a grandparents’ rights attorney to learn more.
Q: How Much Is an Attorney for Grandparents’ Rights?
A: The cost for a grandparents’ rights attorney depends on how complex the case is, the location, and the cooperation of every party involved. You’ll also need to pay court filing fees if a petition is needed. An attorney with experience in grandparents’ rights can help immensely throughout the mediation and court filing process. Consult with a family law attorney to give you an estimate based on your particular situation.
Q: How Hard Is it to Get Grandparents’ Rights in California?
A: Because the court generally prioritizes the parent-child relationship, obtaining rights as a grandparent can be challenging. If you had a strong relationship with the child prior to a divorce and have proof of that, then that will increase your chances of succeeding. If the relationship between the parent and grandparents is a decent one, then your chances also rise. Grandparents can only file if the parents aren’t living together or if their grandchildren aren’t living with their parents.
Q: How Do You Sue for Grandparents’ Rights?
A: To petition for your rights as a grandparent, you must begin with the proper paperwork. You’ll file with the family court, and they’ll review the evidence. The relationship between the grandchild and the grandparent must already be established, and the parents need to be living apart. After filing with the court, the parents will be notified. Usually, this is followed by a mediation with the parents and grandparents to resolve the visitation dispute. A lawyer can negotiate on your behalf.
Contact Khalaf Law Group
If you are seeking visitation with your grandkids, you don’t have to do it alone. Our law group has years of experience representing Glendale grandparents just like you and has been successful in achieving time with their grandkids. We are available to talk you through every step of the process and provide support, along with our thorough knowledge of grandparents’ rights laws.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation.