Douglas Grandparent Visitation

If you are a grandparent, your time with your grandchildren is special. After a divorce or other child custody agreement, you may be concerned about your visitation rights if the court does not grant custody of your grandchildren to your adult child. A Douglas grandparent visitation lawyer can help you pursue visitation so you can preserve time with your grandchildren.

At Kinnett & Cordes, we strive to provide comprehensive, compassionate family law services at reasonable rates throughout the Douglas County area. Our award-winning team can assist you with preparing your grandparent visitation case and represent you at all three 23rd Judicial District courthouses in Douglas, Ebert, and Lincoln counties.

As a grandparent, you deserve to have access to your grandchildren and to be there for the most important moments of their lives. Colorado law supports strong family relationships, and we are here to help you build a successful grandparent visitation case.

Reasons Grandparents May Seek Visitation Rights

Most of the time, grandparents seek visitation after a divorce or separation, when primary custody of their grandchildren is divided between the biological parents or sole custody is granted to one parent. Conflict and strain between biological parents can influence the relationship between a grandparent and their grandchildren.

In situations where a parent has sole custody due to the other parent’s non-involvement, because of incarceration, drug use, or other reasons, grandparents may seek a court order to enable them to see their grandchildren if the custodial parent is non-cooperative with their attempts to form a relationship with their grandchild.

Parental death can also be a reason a grandparent may request visitation rights, which may be granted by the courts so that the surviving parent cannot deny the deceased parent’s family members the ability to see the child. In Colorado, it’s estimated that 1 in 12 children under the age of 18 will experience the loss of a parent.

In Colorado, grandparent visitation is called grandparent family time, and Colorado courts support the best interests of the child. Healthy, ongoing family relationships with grandparents help contribute to the child’s well-being.

Grandparents Rights in Colorado

In Colorado, the courts do not interfere with the relationship between a grandparent and their grandchildren when the family unit is intact, and the child is not endangered. However, when divorce, separation, annulment, or litigation happens between unmarried parents, the state protects the rights of grandparents.

Grandparents’ rights are orderable by the court so long as it is determined to be advantageous for the child to have an ongoing relationship with grandparents. The decision on whether it is favorable or unfavorable is a matter for the courts to decide, with the help of an appointed court-ordered legal representative, who will assess the information available.

It’s even possible for grandparents or other relatives to be awarded custody in certain circumstances. In Colorado, over 39,000 families have custody of children in kinship care.

A Douglas grandparent visitation attorney can help you build a compelling case, using affidavits and other vital evidence necessary to secure your rights to see your grandchildren.

Hire a Grandparent Visitation Lawyer

The first step in seeking visitation with your grandchildren is filing a petition with the district court where the child resides. The petition must be accompanied by an affidavit stating the reasons the petitioning party is requesting the visitation order. Secondly, all parties involved must be served notice of the petition and receive copies of the affidavit and request. The other party may file an opposing affidavit or request a hearing.

If no hearing is requested, the visitation request will be granted to the grandparents, so long as it does not interfere with the child’s well-being. If the case involves a hearing, the courts will determine if it is in the child’s best interests for the grandparents to receive visitation rights. If the courts deny visitation, the grandparents may file an appeal.

For cases that go as far as litigation, it’s crucial to seek legal counsel from an attorney with knowledge of Colorado family law. At Kinnett & Cordes, we are passionate advocates for our clients’ rights and offer affordable representation to families at all income levels. A well-documented, legally sound case can make all the difference when it comes to securing grandparent visitation rights.

FAQs

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Grandparent Visitation Lawyer?

A: The costs associated with hiring a grandparent visitation lawyer will be dependent on several factors. These include the experience of the lawyer, the complexity of the case, and even whether the case is litigated in court. To accurately estimate the lawyer costs you could incur, speak with your lawyer during an initial consultation about the unique details of your case.

Q: For What Reasons Can Grandparents Be Denied Visitation Rights?

A: Colorado visitation laws support grandparent involvement, but visitation can be denied if the courts determine that the child’s welfare is endangered or that visitation will create undue hardship for the child or their custodial parent. In that case, an order can be modified to allow for reasonable visitation rights. For example, if a grandparent lives a great distance away and requests weekly visitation, it will present an unreasonable hardship.

Q: I Live in Another State. Can I Still Petition the Courts for Grandparent Rights in Colorado?

A: Even if you live in another state, you can still file a petition with the district court where your grandchild lives. We serve clients all over the country and have experience negotiating fair visitation schedules that allow for vacation time and holidays with grandparents living in different states.

Q: My Son Died, and His Wife Remarried. Do I Still Have Visitation Rights With My Grandchild?

A: Even in cases where a widowed custodial parent remarries and their new spouse adopts the child, the biological grandparents still have visitation rights. If a widowed custodial parent denies visitation to a grandparent, you have legal recourse and can petition the courts for family time with your grandchild

Douglas Grandparent Visitation | Rights Lawyer

If you are a grandparent who wishes to pursue visitation rights with your grandchildren, it’s crucial to speak with a reputable family law attorney who can help you prepare an effective petition to the courts. At Kinnett & Cordes, we have decades of combined experience advocating for grandparents at all Douglas County district courts.

You deserve to see your grandchildren and create memories with them. Contact us to schedule a consultation and take the first steps toward securing a place in your grandchildren’s lives.