Grandparents Have Rights Under Alabama Law
As a grandparent, you can file a petition for visitation of a grandchild if his or her parent (your child) is deceased. You can file an intervention in a divorce proceeding to assert your right to maintain contact with your grandchildren. You can file for custody of a grandchild who has been abandoned by his or her parents. You can even file for visitation rights if your grandchild's parents have prohibited contact.
With these rights come many conditions and legal tests that must be passed if a petition for custody or visitation is to be successful. You need a lawyer who understands grandparents' rights as defined by Alabama law.
At the Huntsville law firm of Shelley L. Bilbrey, P.C., you will find an experienced Alabama family law attorney who can help you understand your rights as a grandparent and explore your options for solving a problem involving visitation or child custody. Contact us today to schedule a one-on-one consultation.
Asserting Grandparents' Rights in Court
The most important factor that the courts consider in any visitation or custody petition based on grandparents' rights is the relationship that the grandparent and grandchild have had before difficulties arose. Like the decision of child custody in divorce, the courts are most interested in what is in the best interests of the children. Alabama courts may order the parties to work out their differences or even order professional counseling.
If you have been prevented from spending time with your grandchild because of a strained relationship with his or her parents, it may be possible to sit down and work out a solution. This is especially true if all the parties can set aside their personal issues and focus on what is best for the child. Attorney Shelley L. Bilbrey favors finding negotiated resolution in emotional family situations, but is fully prepared to litigate a custody or visitation matter based on grandparents' rights.
For honest answers and sound legal advice, we invite you to contact our office in Huntsville today.
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
