Grandparents Rights
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The time children spend with their grandparents can result in wonderful and lasting memories. Grandparents greatly enrich their grandchildren’s lives, providing additional support beyond the role of the child’s parents. What’s more, this bond is often significant for both generations. While divorce usually has a limited impact outside the immediate family, there are situations when grandparents may need to pursue visitation rights or even custody to maintain a relationship with their grandchildren.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that grandparents do not hold an automatic constitutional right to visitation. If parents decide their children should not see their grandparents, they legally hold that authority. Texas courts emphasize the rights of parents, allowing them to make choices they believe will serve the child’s best interests. Unfortunately, this may have the unforeseen outcome of limiting the access of grandparents and other extended family members, such as aunts and uncles.
While grandparents do generally not have a legal right to their grandchildren, there are circumstances where they can seek custody or visitation:
If grandparents can gain custody, they may have grounds to pursue child support from the parents. However, if a third party adopts the child, the grandparents will be barred from seeking visitation of any kind.
Navigating grandparent rights is challenging, but an experienced child custody attorney can provide valuable guidance. They’ll help you explore your options, defend your rights, and ensure your grandchild has a safe, stable environment regardless of who is taking care of them. We know that it is highly distressing to be kept away from your grandchildren, but in some cases, there is a legal recourse available.
For years, our firm has supported families in Sugar Land, Katy, Tomball, and Houston through the complex challenges of custody law, always making sure that their children are the number one priority. If you believe maintaining a relationship with your grandchildren is in their best interest and any of the above conditions apply, contact us today. We specialize in assisting grandparents with matters of child custody or visitation.
