Grandparent Rights & Visitation Frequently Asked Question #1
Question:
I’m not allowed to visit with my grandchildren. What can I do?
Answer:
The issue of whether or not visitation rights extend to the 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. If you need assistance in locating and/or paying for an attorney, the American Bar Association (ABA) provides a lawyer referral service at http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/lris/directory/home.html (scroll to the bottom of the page for a map of the U.S. which links to local resources) and the Consumers’ Guide to Legal Help at http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm provides pro bono attorney referrals and more. In addition, the following ABA website may also be of assistance, especially to anyone needing free legal help: http://apps.americanbar.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/faq_freehelp..... This site provides links to: free, State legal hotlines for individuals to call and speak to a lawyer; pro bono services for special populations; “unbundled" legal services (which means that individuals can handle part of the legal work themselves to save costs); and links to legal forms.
In addition, there are national organizations that offer information, publications, referrals, and support to grandparents who are having difficulty visiting with their grandchildren. You may want to contact:
AARP Grandparent Information Center
601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049
(202) 434-6470
Grandparent Visitation Rights at http://www.aarp.org/family/grandparenting/articles/grandparent_visit_...; in addition the AARP site links to summaries of State laws, when available, related to grandparent visitation and custody at http://family.findlaw.com/child-custody/custody-more/state-grandparen...
Grandparent Information Center at http://www.aarp.org/family/grandparenting/articles/grandparent_info_c...
Grandparents’ Rights Organization
GRO
100 West Long Lake Road
Suite 250
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Phone: (248) 646-7177
Fax: (248) 646-9722
Email: RSVLaw@aol.com
URL: http://www.grandparentsrights.org/
The Children’s Bureau does not endorse the above organizations or guarantee the content of their websites. These resources are provided for information sharing purposes.
The Federal government does not have the authority to intervene in individual child custody and/or child visitation cases. State and local agencies and courts make these decisions according to State laws.