Fort Worth Grandparents' Rights Lawyer
According to Census 2000, nearly 2.5 million grandparents in the U.S. are primary caregivers for more than 4.5 million of their minor grandchildren. Grandchildren frequently end up in their grandparents' care when their parents are unable to properly fulfill their roles as caregivers. Often, drugs, alcohol or other issues are involved.
Contact Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C., Attorney at Law
Certified Family Law Specialist; Call (817) 498-4105
This informal arrangement may work well for the children temporarily, but legal issues are bound to arise. It is important to clarify a grandparent's rights with respect to the child. Only a child's parent or legal guardian can register a child for school, make decisions about the child's health care, obtain health insurance for the child or take a tax deduction for raising the child.
Clarifying Roles, Establishing Rights
If you are a grandparent who is seeking visitation, custody or primary possession of your grandchildren, it is important to understand your legal rights. Please contact me, Daniel R. Bacalis, P.C., Attorney at Law. I offer a free initial consultation to review your case and advise you of your legal options with respect to grandparents' rights.
Texas courts presume that children belong with their parents unless the parents are proven to be unable to do the job. If parents are present and caring for their children, grandparents have no legal right to intervene and request custody. If they are not, grandparents have the right to pursue termination of parental rights and adoption of their grandchildren.
Visitation Rights
Grandparents are more likely to be granted visitation rights than outright custody of their grandchildren. I have been successful negotiating and litigating visitation agreements for grandparents in numerous cases. Frequently, grandparents seek to establish a right to visitation after a divorce. The court must determine that visitation by the grandparents is in the best interest of the grandchild.
