DeRidder Grandparents’ Rights Lawyer

DeRidder Grandparents’ Rights Attorney

In the state of Louisiana, grandparents don’t have automatic legal rights to custody or visitation of their grandchildren. There are specific laws outlining how grandparents can seek to acquire and protect these rights. Whether you’re seeking custody of your grandchild or feel that your time with them is at risk, be sure to consult a DeRidder grandparents rights lawyer right away.

When to Hire a Grandparents’ Rights Lawyer

In 2023, approximately 7.8 million children across the country were reported to live in homes headed by relatives who were not their parents. More specifically, about 2.1 million grandparents were responsible for their grandchildren, and about one million grandchildren were raised by a grandparent with no parents present at home.

Grandparents can play a very important role in children’s lives, especially when their parents are unable or unwilling to provide a stable and nurturing home environment. These are some of the instances where you may want to initiate legal action and hire a grandparents’ rights lawyer:

• Your grandchild’s parents deny visitation without a valid cause.
• There is a significant change in family circumstances, such as parental incapacity, divorce, or death.
• You suspect abuse or neglect by the child’s parent or parents.
• You feel that the child’s current living arrangements are not in their best interest.
• You would like formal legal recognition for an informal agreement, especially when they break down or are not honored.

What Rights Do Grandparents Have in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, grandparents may not be aware of what rights they do and do not inherently have. An experienced family lawyer can explain your rights and legal options depending on your unique situation. Typically, grandparents have limited rights to request court-ordered visitation when in the child’s best interests.

If the child’s parents are married, have not filed for divorce, or are still living together, a grandparent can only petition for visitation for a minor if:

• The parents have lived separately for at least six months.
• A married parent is interdicted.
• One of the parents has died or been incarcerated.

Why You Should Work With a Grandparents Lawyer

There are several ways working with a DeRidder grandparents rights attorney can benefit your case. A qualified and skilled family lawyer can guide you through Louisiana’s grandparents’ rights laws, helping you understand what your legal options are and how to go through each step of the legal process.

Lead attorney William L. Godley at the Godley Law Firm is an experienced and skilled family law professional prepared to help grandparents navigate the legal system. Our team can gather evidence to support your case, help you in preparing and filing necessary court documents, represent you during negotiations or hearings, and advocate for your rights as a grandparent.

A grandparents’ rights case in DeRidder is most likely to go through the 36th Judicial District Court for Beauregard Parish, which is located at 201 W 1st Street, DeRidder, LA 70634. Legal venues can vary depending on your location and other details relevant to your case. Be sure to consult with your legal counsel about which courthouses or other venues you can expect to interact with over the course of the proceedings.

FAQs

Can Grandparents Seek Custody if the Parents Are Unfit?

Yes, a grandparent in Louisiana can seek custody if their grandchild’s parents are considered unfit. A parent is generally considered unfit if they are unable to meet their child’s basic needs and provide necessary care. Whether a parent may be considered unfit can vary depending on the circumstances, but some applicable scenarios include:

• Child neglect or endangerment
• Domestic violence or child abuse
• Continued and serious drug abuse
• Serious mental health concerns
• Convictions of certain crimes

When Can a Grandparent Petition for Visitation in LA?

In Louisiana, a grandparent can petition for third-party visitation or custody rights under certain circumstances that are in the child’s best interests. The court will consider several case details when determining whether grandparent custody or visitation is in a child’s best interests.

These factors include the relationship between the grandchild and grandparent, whether the grandparent is most equipped to deal with any special needs of the child, the grandchild’s preference, and the parents’ rights to make decisions for their child.

Are Grandparents Required to Pay Child Support in LA?

In Louisiana, grandparents generally don’t have the same responsibility and expectation to provide financial support for a child as a legal or biological parent would. This means grandparents are not legally obligated to offer or provide child support to the child’s parents.

However, if a grandparent has custody over a child, this may impact child support issues. If you’re unsure whether you should be paying child support as a grandparent, be sure to consult a family law attorney.

What Does a Grandparents Rights Lawyer Do in LA?

In the state of Louisiana, a grandparent’s rights lawyer provides support and legal counsel to grandparents seeking to protect or enforce their rights to see and provide for their grandchildren. Grandparents’ rights attorneys can help grandparents who are concerned about protecting their right to spend time with their grandchildren or those who seek to gain custody due to the child’s well-being while under the parents’ care. These family lawyers can collect evidence, file petitions, and represent grandparents in hearings.

How Long Does a Grandparent’s Visitation Case Take?

A grandparents’ visitation petition case in the state of Louisiana can often take several months, but determining an exact timeline is difficult without reviewing the particular details of your situation. If the visitation petition is contested by the child’s parents, the case is likely to require more time in court, scheduled hearings, and other proceedings than an uncontested petition. Certain emergency orders may need less time to settle.

Speak With a Grandparents’ Rights Attorney Today

At the Godley Law Firm, our family law professionals are committed to advocating for grandparents and their rights to their grandchildren. Reach out to our team today to schedule an initial meeting with a capable DeRidder grandparents’ rights lawyer who can go over the details of your case with you.