can a person ask for attorney free when they are being sued for grandparents visitation in georgia

by Danny Reichert PhD 10 min read

Can grandparents sue for visitation rights?

Grandparents who have maintained a relationship with the child — and are suddenly cut off from contact — may be able to sue for visitation rights, as can those who have been prevented from a relationship despite their best efforts.

How do grandparents get custody of grandchildren in Georgia?

There are several ways parents can lose their parental rights and consequently allow grandparents to get custody of their grandchildren. Under Georgia law, some of the ways those parental rights can be lost include: Voluntary contract releasing the right to a third person such as the grandparent.

What is considered reasonable visitation for a grandparent?

In some states, such as Maryland, grandparents are legally allowed to have "reasonable visitation" if it is in the best interest of the child. With these laws, there often aren't explicit statutes to define what is "reasonable" or how the best interest of the child is determined.

Can a grandparent get visitation with an adopted child?

Due to a constitutional requirement to recognize parental authority, grandparents cannot petition the court for visitation if their grandchild (ren) are living in an intact family with both legal parents. This prohibition has recently been extended by an appellate court to intact family involving adopted parents, and not just biological parents.

Can a parent deny a grandparent visitation in Georgia?

A parent may deny a grandparent visitation in Georgia if there is no court order requiring such grandparent visitation. If there is a court order requiring grandparent visitation and the parent is withholding such visitation, a grandparent may be able to enforce the court order via contempt.

Can a parent deny a grandparent visitation?

Can a parent deny a grandparent visitation? As there are no automatic rights for a grandparent to their grandchildren, parents can deny a grandparent visitation if there is no court order allowing for contact.

Do grandparents have visitation rights in GA?

Yes. Georgia law gives grandparents the right to ask a court for visitation with their grandchildren. Grandparents can exercise this right in one of two ways. First, grandparents may file their own, original court action for visitation with their grandchild.

Do grandparents have legal access rights?

Under the current family law, grandparents do not have the automatic right to see their grandchildren. Any contact the children have with their grandchildren would need to be agreed to by the parents.

What to do when you are not allowed to see your grandchildren?

The issue of whether or not visitation rights extend to grandparents is a matter for the family courts to decide. You may wish to consult with and/or obtain the services of an attorney who practices in the area of family law in your State.

Can grandparents be stopped from seeing grandchildren?

Withholding Grandchildren from Grandparents: Everything You'd Need To Know. The law does not give grandparents any automatic rights to see their grandchildren. So, in almost every case, parents can keep children away from grandparents if they choose to. This doesn't mean grandparents have no other options.

Can grandparents sue for custody in Georgia?

Fortunately, the laws in our state support a grandparents legal right to see and spend time with their grandchildren. Under the Georgia Code (O.C.G.A. 19-7-3), grandparents may file a petition seeking visitation in any custody action, including cases involving divorce, termination of parental rights, and adoption.

How much visitation can grandparents get Georgia?

once every two yearsGrandparents can only request visitation once every two years. Also, they can't request visitation during a year when any other custody action is pending for the child.

Do grandparents have contact rights?

We are frequently asked what are grandparents rights when they have been denied access to their grandchildren. The sad truth is that grandparents do not have an automatic right to contact with their grandchildren.

Can grandparents go to court for access?

Summary. Access for grandparents to their grandchildren should initially be sought through agreement with the parents or carers of the child. However, where this cannot be agreed, the grandparent can seek the leave of the court, and if successful, apply for a child arrangements order to agree access.

Can grandparents take custody of grandchildren?

A grandparent must have a very strong case to succeed in taking custody of a grandchild. Grandparent custody is not the same as grandparent adoption. Even though a grandparent may gain custody of a child, the child's parents will retain parental rights. This is especially true if both parents are still alive.

How often should a grandparent see their grandchildren?

According to her research, grandparents who live at a long distance tend to travel less often to visit and they stay longer, but the average number of visits that long-distance grandparents make each year is two to four times for trips lasting 5 to 10 days each.

Deal-Breaking Behavior

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Sometimes parents are right to deny grandparents contact with grandchildren. People who are sex offenders or substance abusers seldom clean up their acts just because they become grandparents. Parents are justified in not wanting their children around grandparents who could endanger children's welfare. For instanc…
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Threats to Normal Access

  • Barring grandparent misconduct, the expectation of the law is that grandparents have access to their grandchildren through the parent who is their child. This is expected to be true both in intact families and in cases where the child's parents are no longer together. Sometimes, however, the parent who serves as the grandparent's portal to grandchildren also loses contact with the childr…
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Generational Disputes

  • There are other, less serious conflicts that also can lead to family estrangement. According to psychologist Marsha L. Shelov, three common circumstances that spark disputes between parents and grandparents include:2 1. Disagreements over issues such as religion 2. Personality conflicts between grandparents and parents, such as daughter-in-law conf...
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Financial Issues

  • Sometimes family disputes concern money. For instance, grandparents who contribute financially to their children sometimes threaten to cut off financial aid unless certain conditions are met. The exception to this rule is when grandparents agree to pay for private school, college, special lessons, or coaching for their grandchildren. In these circumstances, they have a right to require …
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Conflicts and Mental Disorders

  • Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for both parents and grandparents to sometimes describe the other parties as mentally ill. Common charges are that the other party is a compulsive liar or has a serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder or narcissistic personality disorder. Sometimes the individuals in question have been diagnosed with a mental illness, and sometimes someone is p…
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Breaching Boundaries

  • Another common reason why parents restrict contact with the grandchildren is caused by boundaries. This type of offense can take the form of violating physical boundaries, such as dropping in on family members and entering without knocking. Sometimes, the boundaries between parenting and grandparenting are blurred. This situation is often seen when young pare…
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A Word from Verywell

  • The key to any healthy relationship is effective communication. Many family disagreements are the result of miscommunication and hurt feelings. Healing small disagreements and family rifts before they become full-blown breaks is the key to maintaining a positive relationship and maintaining contact with your grandchildren. Be the first to apologize and look for a compromis…
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