Sometimes, parents can have serious issues that are damaging to their children. In such cases, it is imperative that a solution is found that provides a safe environment for the children to reside.
If parents are not capable of responsibly caring for their children, it may be up to the grandparents to give the children a good home. However, even if the grandparents are ready, willing and able to take custody of their grandchildren, they may face some resistance from the courts.
If at least one of the child’s parents is still alive, the courts will typically presume that it is in the child’s best interests to remain in that parent’s custody. As such, if grandparents want to attain custody, they must be able to provide evidence that the parent is unfit to care for the child. This can be especially difficult if the parent offers resistance to losing custody to the grandparents.
There are times when it is truly in the best interests of the child to be allowed to live with his or her grandparents. For instance, if it can be demonstrated that the parent is guilty of neglect, abuse or harboring the child in an unsafe environment, then it may be possible for grandparents to be granted custody by the court.
If you are the grandparent of a child who you believe needs to be removed from his or her parent’s care, then you may wish to contact a child custody attorney. The attorney can offer you advice and guidance on how you may be able to get your grandchild clear of danger and into your custody.