Castle Rock Grandparents’ Rights Lawyer

Grandparents’ Rights Attorney in Castle Rock, CO

Grandparents almost always want what is right for their grandkids, but sometimes, disagreements with the children’s parents can get in the way. If you’ve found yourself in a situation where you are being denied access to your grandchildren, it’s worth getting in touch with a Castle Rock grandparents’ rights lawyer to find out if you have the right to file for visitation or custody.

The family law team at Fuller & Ahern, PC, has been working in the field of grandparents’ rights for years. We’ve helped grandparents get visitation rights following the death of a parent and custody of children who must be taken from their homes. If you’re concerned that your children are violating your rights as a grandparent, reach out. We’ll explain how grandparents’ rights laws apply to your specific circumstances and what you can do to improve the situation.

Hire a Grandparents’ Rights Lawyer

Grandparents play an essential role in their grandchildren’s lives. In 2021, 3.3% of people 30 and older lived with minor grandchildren. One ACS shows that from 2017 to 2021, 8.0% of children under 18 lived with a grandparent in their home. Even if grandparents don’t live with their grandchildren, they can play a vital role in raising them. One study shows that adult mentorship makes children 46% less likely to use drugs and 52% less likely to skip school.

If you feel that you don’t play enough of a role in your grandchildren’s lives, there may be something you can do. Children who are taken from their homes can be sent to live with their grandparents, and those who remain in homes with one deceased parent or two separated parents may be entitled to visits from their grandparents. Hire a grandparents’ rights lawyer to help you determine whether these circumstances apply in your case.

Grandparents’ Visitation Rights

Grandparents can file for visitation rights at the Douglas County District Court only in certain circumstances. If the family is intact and does not have contact with the judicial system, there are no legal grounds for filing for visitation rights. However, there are some circumstances where the courts will grant those rights, such as:

• Parental separation. If parents are separated or divorced, grandparents can petition the court for visitation rights.
• Parental death. If one parent passes away and the surviving parent is denying access to grandchildren, grandparents may be able to seek visitation rights.
• Child placed outside the home. If a child is taken from their parents and custody is given to a third party, grandparents may be able to seek visitation rights.

Keep in mind that in all these cases, visitation rights are only granted if the court deems it to be in the best interests of the grandchildren.

Grandparents’ Custody Rights

If a child’s parents are deemed unfit to provide care for them due to negligence or abuse, a grandparent may be able to obtain custody of the child. In most cases, Colorado courts will place children taken from dangerous households with their immediate family rather than strangers, so it’s worth petitioning for custody in these circumstances.

If you’ve been providing the actual physical care for your grandchildren and want to take on some of the parental responsibilities for that child, you can also petition the court for sole or partial custody. You need to provide actual physical care for the child for at least six months before you can take this step. Hiring a Castle Rock grandparents’ rights attorney will make it easier to do so.

Termination or Modification of Grandparents’ Rights

Even if the court has granted you visitation rights, you may encounter circumstances where they must be modified or terminated. If the parents lose custody, you may also lose visitation rights. Similarly, if the child is legally adopted, you will not maintain the right to visit your grandchild. Finally, if the court deems that it’s no longer in the best interests of the child, your visitation rights can be terminated in Castle Rock, CO.

FAQs

How Much Is an Attorney for Grandparents’ Rights?

How much an attorney is for grandparents’ rights varies depending on the nature of the case in question. A simple case in which a grandparent is pursuing court-ordered visitation for a grandchild and can easily prove that it’s in the child’s best interests will cost less to resolve than a complex case involving custody issues.

Can I File a Claim Against My Son for Not Letting Me See My Grandkids?

You can file a claim against your son for not letting you see your grandkids in limited circumstances in Colorado. For intact families where there has been no court involvement, it’s rare for the court to intervene. However, if the child is placed outside the home or there has been a court intervention in the parents’ marriage, grandparents can file a claim for visitation rights with the court.

Does the State of Colorado Have Grandparents’ Rights?

The state of Colorado has limited grandparents’ rights. Grandparents can seek visitation rights in specific circumstances. They include when one parent has died, when the parents are separated or divorced, and when a third party has custody of the child. Grandparents can also seek custody when a child has been removed from the home. If you are a grandparent who wants to understand your rights, contact an attorney.

Can a Parent Stop a Child From Seeing Their Grandparents?

A parent can stop a child from seeing their grandparents in most situations. If the family is intact and there has been no court intervention, grandparents do not have the right to see their grandchildren. That changes in certain circumstances. Grandparents can file for visitation rights if children are taken from the home, if one parent dies, or if the parents’ divorce.

Castle Rock Grandparents’ Rights Lawyer

If you need a Castle Rock grandparents’ rights lawyer to help you resolve family matters, you can trust Fuller & Ahern, PC. Our legal team has been working with Colorado grandparents to resolve disputes and support their rights for years. We understand grandparents’ rights laws and have handled many grandparents’ rights cases. We can help you, too. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.