Most parents have dreams for their children. They imagine children growing up, finding a career and a partner, and eventually giving their parents the grandchildren they always wanted. What most grandparents do not imagine is being in the position of raising those grandchildren themselves. Everyone's situation is different, and there are those grandparents who decide they will fight for legal guardianship of the children. In Durham, NC when they start researching grandparent custody Durham NC seniors find out just how difficult that can be.
It is not unusual for the older generation to think they know more about rearing children than their own children do. They can offer unsolicited advice, but should avoid criticism unless they want to risk restricted access to their grandchildren. Actually trying to take those children from the parents is difficult and can be almost impossible. Courts and family services side with the parents if at all possible.
You might assume drug abuse on the parent's part would be enough to separate children from their parents, but in many states that is not true. In some states a drug addicted mother of an unborn child can be charged with child abuse, but once the child is born, involving the child in drug activity may be the only thing in this situation that constitutes abuse.
Commonly parents with substance abuse and other serious problems end up abandoning their children to the grandparents. This can happen suddenly or over time. A parent may drop children off at the grandparents for the day and never show back up. In other circumstances, children spend more and more time with the grandparents until they are there all the time.
Sometimes children lose parents through death or imprisonment. When this happens grandparents can attempt to formalize their custodial relationship in the courts. It can still be difficult, because the judge is not required to give grandparents preferential treatment when it comes custodial rights. Many grandparents maintain an informal status filing paperwork so they have the authority to make medical and educational decisions.
Grandparents determined to get legal guardianship of their grandchildren often have a difficult time convincing the court they should have custodial care. They have more influence with a judge if they have already taken primary responsibility of the minors because the parents have abandoned their rights, have been proven abusive, or have been convicted of a serious crime. Grandparents will also have to prove granting them guardianship is in the best interest of the children.
A lot of times grandparents who have won custodial rights mistakenly think they have as many rights as adoptive parents. This is not correct. If parents want their children back, the court is inclined to allow it as long as they are convinced it would be in the children's best interest. If this happens, the grandparents automatically lose their guardianship status and may risk losing visitation privileges.
Family emotions can run high when children are involved. Relatives don't always agree on what is in their best interest. When grandparents try to prove they are a better choice than a parent, the courts may or may not agree.
It is not unusual for the older generation to think they know more about rearing children than their own children do. They can offer unsolicited advice, but should avoid criticism unless they want to risk restricted access to their grandchildren. Actually trying to take those children from the parents is difficult and can be almost impossible. Courts and family services side with the parents if at all possible.
You might assume drug abuse on the parent's part would be enough to separate children from their parents, but in many states that is not true. In some states a drug addicted mother of an unborn child can be charged with child abuse, but once the child is born, involving the child in drug activity may be the only thing in this situation that constitutes abuse.
Commonly parents with substance abuse and other serious problems end up abandoning their children to the grandparents. This can happen suddenly or over time. A parent may drop children off at the grandparents for the day and never show back up. In other circumstances, children spend more and more time with the grandparents until they are there all the time.
Sometimes children lose parents through death or imprisonment. When this happens grandparents can attempt to formalize their custodial relationship in the courts. It can still be difficult, because the judge is not required to give grandparents preferential treatment when it comes custodial rights. Many grandparents maintain an informal status filing paperwork so they have the authority to make medical and educational decisions.
Grandparents determined to get legal guardianship of their grandchildren often have a difficult time convincing the court they should have custodial care. They have more influence with a judge if they have already taken primary responsibility of the minors because the parents have abandoned their rights, have been proven abusive, or have been convicted of a serious crime. Grandparents will also have to prove granting them guardianship is in the best interest of the children.
A lot of times grandparents who have won custodial rights mistakenly think they have as many rights as adoptive parents. This is not correct. If parents want their children back, the court is inclined to allow it as long as they are convinced it would be in the children's best interest. If this happens, the grandparents automatically lose their guardianship status and may risk losing visitation privileges.
Family emotions can run high when children are involved. Relatives don't always agree on what is in their best interest. When grandparents try to prove they are a better choice than a parent, the courts may or may not agree.
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