| Your grandson is now 5 years old, and your daughter | | | | decides to return home and to file for divorce. Leslie |
| and her husband are in a violent relationship. Is there | | | | gets her divorce and now claims sole custody of her |
| anything you can do to protect and help your | | | | son. She plans to move to another state to start her |
| grandson? Can you get custody of him? | | | | new life as a single mom. Leslie's parents are |
| Grandsons and granddaughters become the joy of | | | | devastated with her decision of moving away and |
| their grandparents in many ways. Once the children | | | | taking her son with her. They know this will mean the |
| are gone, and you are retired, spending time and | | | | end of their relationship with their dear grandson. |
| taking care of your grandchildren usually becomes the | | | | This might not be the case. In many states, an |
| easiest way for you to find a purpose in life again. | | | | "extended disruption of custody", and a prolonged |
| Although this might sound selfish at first, the truth is | | | | separation of the child and the parent for at least 24 |
| that most grandparents do this without even been | | | | continuous months might result in that parent losing |
| aware of the benefits they are getting; in fact, many | | | | custody or the child. During this period of time |
| do it from the bottom of their hearts and with the | | | | however, the parent must have had voluntarily |
| best intentions. | | | | relinquished custody of the child. If the parent visits |
| What can you do if your relationship with your | | | | the child regularly, this law does not apply. However if |
| grandchildren is threatened or even worse, if the | | | | the child resided in the grandparents' household for |
| relationship is abruptly interrupted? | | | | said period of time without the parent ever showing |
| In the majority of the states, grandparents are given | | | | any concern about his or her welfare, then the court |
| custody rights when they can demonstrate the | | | | may find the parent unfit to have custody of the |
| existence of extraordinary circumstances. Let's | | | | child. The court may find extraordinary circumstances |
| consider the case of Leslie and her husband Jeff. This | | | | in extreme cases such as when there is evidence of |
| young couple is engaged in a violent relationship. | | | | child abuse, neglect, drug abuse, and grant the |
| There is domestic violence. Jeff has come home | | | | grandparents custody rights, even where the |
| drunk many times and has verbally and physically | | | | separation was less that 24 months. |
| abused Leslie in the presence of their 5 years old son. | | | | Guardianship and court ordered visitations are other |
| Even when she is unhappy, Leslie can't make the | | | | options to help grandparents to have access to their |
| decision of leaving Jeff. She attributes his temper | | | | grandchildren when it is denied to them. These |
| tantrums to the stress at work, financial troubles, | | | | remedies are more accessible, and like custody, they |
| and so on. The couple decides to move to another | | | | can only be changed if the parties agree to it or by |
| state to try again. This time they leave their son with | | | | order of the court. Guardianship is the best way for |
| Leslie's parents. The grandparents are now in physical | | | | grandparents to take legal responsibility for the child. |
| custody of the child. | | | | Visitation is suggested in those cases in which the |
| Leslie and Jeff spend 2 years away trying to fix their | | | | child's welfare is not at risk, yet the biological parents |
| marriage and settle a new home. However, Jeff's | | | | refuse that the grandparents spend time with their |
| drinking problem does not get any better. After a | | | | grandchildren. |
| serious attack that put her in the hospital, Leslie | | | | |