A contentious separation between parents can leave grandparents out of the picture and cause painful consequences. In many families, grandparents play a vital role in a child’s life since children can often benefit from the wisdom and financial assistance that a grandparent can offer.
Individuals who want to avoid alienation from grandchildren can review the legal possibilities for gaining visitation rights.
Visitation rights in Pennsylvania
Situations vary on when a court might allow a grandparent to sue for visitation. As with most other areas of life, a grandparent may be better off trying to negotiate a private arrangement instead of heading straight to court. Scheduling issues and disagreements may resolve with frank and respectful conversations.
A grandparent may prefer to sue for visitation when a parent dies and the other parent restricts access to the children. If one parent loses custody and the other denies a grandparent the opportunity to visit, a court may award visitation rights to the grandparent after a petition.
Factors that help a grandparent’s case
The Grandparent Visitation Act provides for the possibility of partial custody in a broken nuclear family unit. A grandparent must show that their continuing association is in the child’s interests and that visitation does not interfere with the child’s relationship with a parent.
Grandparents need facts demonstrating a lack of access and the significance of their relationship with the child. The courts look to see how the restrictions harm the child’s mental, emotional and physical well-being. A grandparent may have a strong case after helping to raise the child.
Grandparents have long played an essential role in supporting the development of children. Loving grandparents can take legal action to ensure continual involvement in a grandchild’s life.