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Do I have the right to see my grandkids?

On Behalf of | Jul 27, 2019 | Child Custody, Uncategorized |

When your child goes through a divorce in Georgia, you may wonder what rights you have as a grandparent. The state favors grandparent visitation rights even if the parent doesn’t have rights to see their child. The law is specific when you want to seek visitation for your grandkids.

Divorcenet.com breaks down the law, stating that grandparents can petition the court “for visitation once every two years.” The court does not consider requests when the parents have yet to separate and the children live with both of their parents. However, you can intervene in their divorce proceedings.

Much like how the court handles parental visitation, the judge looks at the child’s welfare when granting or denying the request. If you regularly saw your grandchild, provided financial support or housed them for a six-month period of time, the court may grant you visitation. If the court feels the child would suffer physical or emotional harm from not seeing you, they may grant the request.

Once the courts grant visitation, the parents still have the right to request the court to amend or revoke your visitation. The parent can only request a change once every two years, but the parent does not have the final word in whether or not you get to see your grandchild. If there is a need, you can seek custody of the grandchild, but it is more difficult to obtain.

While this information should not be taken as legal advice, it can help you understand the process and what to expect. A family law attorney can go over more specifics with you.