If you are raising your grandchildren, or if you think it looks like that is a possibility in the near future, you need to understand the different custody options available to you as a grandparent. You also need to understand how your custody options affect both your rights and your grandchildren's parents right. If you have any questions about your custody options, you need to consult with a family law attorney.
Option #1: Physical Custody
In this arrangement, your grandchildren are in your care because their parents have agreed to let them be with you. There is no court order that mandates that your grandchildren have to be in your custody.
In this arrangement, even though your grandchildren are living with you, you have no legal rights …show more content…
This arrangement works best if you have a positive relationship with your grandchild's parents and are in agreement about you raising them.
Option #2: Legal Custody
Legal custody can be arranged and agreed upon between you and the parents of your grandchild and sanctioned through a legal agreement. The courts system can also grant you legal custody, even without the consent of the parents, if they feel it is in the best interest of your grandchildren.
In this arrangement, you will have some legal authority to make day-to-day care decisions for your grandchildren. You may still not be able to make medical decisions for them; those will either have to go through their parents or their court appointed advocate.
Your grandchildren's parents will have the rights to visitations and may have to follow a formal visitation schedule, like in a divorce. In this arrangement, there is hope that the parents will eventually be in a position to regain custody of their children again at some point. They can even position the courts to regain custody in the future.
Option #3:
Option #1: Physical Custody
In this arrangement, your grandchildren are in your care because their parents have agreed to let them be with you. There is no court order that mandates that your grandchildren have to be in your custody.
In this arrangement, even though your grandchildren are living with you, you have no legal rights …show more content…
This arrangement works best if you have a positive relationship with your grandchild's parents and are in agreement about you raising them.
Option #2: Legal Custody
Legal custody can be arranged and agreed upon between you and the parents of your grandchild and sanctioned through a legal agreement. The courts system can also grant you legal custody, even without the consent of the parents, if they feel it is in the best interest of your grandchildren.
In this arrangement, you will have some legal authority to make day-to-day care decisions for your grandchildren. You may still not be able to make medical decisions for them; those will either have to go through their parents or their court appointed advocate.
Your grandchildren's parents will have the rights to visitations and may have to follow a formal visitation schedule, like in a divorce. In this arrangement, there is hope that the parents will eventually be in a position to regain custody of their children again at some point. They can even position the courts to regain custody in the future.
Option #3: