When parents’ divorce, it’s not only them who are afraid of losing their rights to visit their child. Grandparents also desire to have their rights protected when it comes to spending time with their grandchild. Grandparents’ needs regarding their grandchildren are usually simple; involving the right to visit grandkids to build or sustain relationships.
However, there are also times when the grandparents must step in and take over full-time care of the child. Parents unable to adequately care for their children create this need for grandparents to provide the care the grandchild needs and deserves.
Despite the clarity of grandparents’ desire to visit and care for grandchildren, grandparent law in Texas is anything but clear. For instance, to establish custody or visitation rights or to establish a managing conservatorship, grandparents may need to accomplish one or more of the following:
- Prove they have already been providing care for at least six months within statutory timelines
- Prove the grandchild and the grandchild’s guardian, managing conservator or parent have resided with the grandparent for at least six months within statutory timelines
- Demonstrate that the parent is deceased
- Prove that the grandchild’s present circumstances would significantly impair his or her physical health or emotional development
If you wish to gain visitation rights or custody rights regarding your grandchild, contact Neal Ashmore. Our goal is to provide creative family law solutions for grandparents, saving them money, time and anguish. Our experience translates into results that work for your grandchildren and for you.
In addition to working with grandparents, we work with parents who need help in disputes with grandparents over grandchild-related visitation and custody.