San antonio texas grandparents rights lawyer

A Law Firm That Values The Contributions Of Grandparents

Families don’t need to look like the traditional “nuclear family” to be healthy and supportive. For a variety of reasons, children cannot always be left in the care of their biological parents. In many of these cases, grandparents selflessly step in to fulfill their grandchildren’s needs.

Unfortunately, without legally formalizing these new arrangements, grandparents may have little say in what happens to the grandkids they love and want to protect. Attorney Sheri Bryce Dye represents a significant number of concerned grandparents. She is proud to advocate on behalf of such caring people who are willing to step into a difficult caregiving role.

Below are three possible legal avenues that may be available to you as a grandparent caring for your grandchildren.

Petitioning For Grandchild Conservatorship

Conservatorship in Texas is what is known as “custody” just about everywhere else. These cases often (but not always) begin with an informal arrangement in which grandparents are caring full-time for their grandkids with permission from (and due to the needs of) the parents.

The problem with an informal arrangement is that the parent could suddenly demand the children back months later, and the grandparents would be left with little recourse to stop it. Kids may go from being raised by their grandparents to never seeing them.

If you have been taking care of your grandchildren for six months or more (and can provide documentation to prove it), you may be able to petition the court for conservatorship of your grandkids after a parent tries to take them back. The care you provided doesn’t have to be entirely consecutive in order to count.

Formally Adopting Your Grandchildren

Adopting a grandchild is, legally speaking, distinct from gaining conservatorship. Adoption confers full parental rights, which is important for making decisions on the child’s behalf such as medical care, religious indoctrination and schooling. You could also put adopted grandchildren onto your insurance plan.

That being said, adoption is also a harder process. First and foremost, it requires terminating the parental rights of the biological parents. In some cases, parents will be willing to relinquish these rights. In other cases, it will require a difficult legal dispute. There are other matters you should be prepared for as well, including a home study conducted by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and a court hearing.

Filing An Intervention In CPS Cases

When children are removed from an unfit home by child protective services (CPS), they may be placed in foster care or with a relative. To divert your grandchildren from foster care, you’d need to file an “intervention,” a legal proceeding requesting that they be placed with you instead.

This process can be complicated because it typically requires termination of parental rights and appointment as a conservator.

Contact Sheri To Learn More About Grandparents’ Rights

Grandparents often have more legal options than they realize, but it is important to work with an experienced attorney who will advocate aggressively on your behalf. To learn how the Law Office of Sheri Bryce Dye can help you, contact the firm in San Antonio to schedule an initial consultation. Call the firm at 210-761-5241 or send an email to the firm.

Grandparents’ Rights Lawyer in San Antonio Protecting Your Rights

Grandparents play an important role and can develop strong bonds with their grandchildren that can last a lifetime. Their rights generally apply to the custody of a grandchild and visitation privileges. Grandparents may file suit requesting custody if they believe it is in the child’s best interest.

If your grandchild lives with you, you may wish to seek custody. As a custodial parent, you can apply for child support. If you have custody, both parents have a legal obligation to provide financial and medical support for their children and they will be required to pay it to you.

Having access to a child following a divorce can be crucial for you as a grandparent. Whether you need help with custody and visitation rights or any other family law needs, our law firm can help you fight for your rights. Contact us at (210) 655-9090 for the compassionate legal service you deserve.

What is a Grandparents’ Rights?

After a divorce occurs, a grandparent may lose the ability to maintain a meaningful relationship with their grandchild. If the parents are unable or unwilling to fulfill their parental roles, grandparents may need legal protection to continue having access to grandchildren they love very much. Grandparents’ rights lawyers can help you protect your rights and seek recourse if they have been violated.

A divorce or death can separate you from your grandchildren for years, but caring grandparents deserve the legal right to be involved in their lives even when they live far away. A court may not be able to force-fit new relationships where old ones used to exist, but an experienced lawyer can still fight for you.

For many families, it is essential that children spend time with their grandparents, uncles, or aunts during special holidays and vacations throughout the year. If a parent is unable to take children during these times, a court may order visitation by grandparents or other family members instead.

As a grandparent, you have the right to file suit for custody of your grandchild if parents are deemed unfit by a court. Additionally, you may be able to apply for child support from the parents of the child that lives with you as their custodial guardian. Once awarded, any financial support can help provide for your grandchildren’s needs and improve their quality of life.

In cases where both parents are deceased, legal guardianship falls on relatives such as grandparents who are most likely already taking care of the child anyway. The courts will look closely at what is in the best interests of the child before making a final decision.

If you have been denied visitation or other rights that should be afforded to grandparents, get help from an experienced San Antonio grandparent’s rights attorney. It is important to have legal representation in these matters because there are laws protecting your interests as a grandparent and custodian seeking the right to maintain a consistent relationship with their grandchildren.

Is a Grandparents’ Rights Lawyer for Everyone?

You should always look out for a child’s best interests. If you believe a child’s parents are incompetent or if they have been incarcerated, you may be able to get a court order that allows you access to the child through a visitation or custody agreement. Grandparent visitation rights can be an important step in maintaining a relationship with grandchildren and is often preferred over the intervention of social services.

If you are raising your grandchildren due to parental neglect or poor health, then having custody can not only improve their lives but also provide for financial security as well. While most family members will seek out this option whenever possible, it is ultimately up to a court to decide how things play out.

Whether you plan on filing suit for grandparent visitation rights or grandparents’ rights, we can help you moving forward.

What is Beneficial About Having a Grandparents’ Rights Attorney?

Grandparents’ rights attorneys in San Antonio are here to advocate for your best interests. We understand how difficult it can be to be shut out of the lives of grandchildren you love, but our firm has years of experience in this area of law and is committed to providing the community with compassionate legal service.

Our experienced legal team has seen court cases that take a lot of time involving all types of family law issues. From uncontested divorces to high-asset property division, our legal team is well versed in helping families get through some of their most challenging life events. Our firm is dedicated not only to representing clients but also advocating for your needs as a grandparent or relative guardian hoping to maintain lasting relationships with children who are already part of your family life. We know the rights you have and we will do whatever it takes to uphold them.

Should I Hire a Grandparents’ Rights Attorney?

As a San Antonio grandparents’ rights law firm, we are here to represent your best interests with respect to visitation or custody given the case’s specific circumstances. If you have any questions about grandparent/third-party visitation rights or need legal representation during a hearing, do not hesitate to call our office for more information today at (210) 655-9090.

Can you sue for grandparents rights in Texas?

Grandparents' rights generally apply to the custody of a grandchild and visitation privileges. Grandparents may file suit requesting custody if they believe it is in the child's best interest.
As noted, the Texas Family Code does allow grandparents to seek visitation and custody (conservatorship) of their grandchildren, but the burden is on the grandparents to prove that it is in the child's best interest. In all honesty, this burden of proof is a very strict standard and difficult to overcome.

How hard is it for grandparents to get custody in Texas?

In some circumstances, many grandparents that believe that their grandchildren are not being adequately taken care of wish to obtain custody rights. Unfortunately, under Texas law, grandparents have no automatic right to custody of their grandchildren.

What rights do grandparents have?

What rights do grandparents have? Grandparents do not automatically have parental responsibility. This means you do not have any legal rights to see your grandchildren. Unless there's a Court order in place, it is up to the parents to decide who their children see.