Grandparent’s Rights After a Divorce in WI
When you’ve lost access to your grandchildren, it can affect your quality of life and theirs. When the parents are getting a divorce, it is important for you to know your rights and seek out the help of a local lawyer if your rights aren’t being respected.
Divorce is always a difficult process, but grandparents are important to the growth and development of their grandchildren, and the courts understand this. If your grandchildren are a major part of your life and you don’t have access to them, reach out to us right away for help.
This may be especially true if the custodial parent isn’t your child. If you’re concerned about getting visitation rights for your grandchildren, contact our lawyers at Karp & Iancu today. We can discuss your options and next steps to make sure your rights are not ignored.
Grandparents Have Rights
Many grandparents assume that they don’t have a right to their grandchildren at all if the custodial parent doesn’t want any contact with their former spouse, including their family. You might be concerned that you won’t have a right to see your grandchildren because you’re not one of the parents.
Fortunately, Wisconsin law does recognize that other family members, not just parents, may be part of a child’s development and growth. In some cases, a grandparent or other relative, like a stepparent or even a great-grandparent, may have a relationship with the child similar to a parental role.
This means you may have a right to visitation. Since you’re also an important part of the children’s lives, you may be able to fight for the time you deserve with them.
Fighting for Your Visitation Time
You may need to fight back if the custodial parent doesn’t want to offer you visitation time. If you feel you are a parental figure to the child, you may need to petition for your visitation rights with a local attorney.
If you are the parent of the father, your son may need to prove his paternity before you can proceed. If there’s doubt about paternity, it can affect your visitation rights.
Once that issue is settled, you’ll file your petition for visitation rights in court. If the custodial parent refuses to offer time with the child, you’ll attend a hearing for your right to time with your grandchildren. Your attorney can help you fight back and show that it’s in the child’s best interest to have that visitation time.
Reach Out for Help from a Milwaukee Family Attorney
When you’ve lost visiting time with your grandchildren, it can be disheartening. If you’re not getting the time you deserve with your grandkids, you may have the opportunity to protect your rights. Your attorney can help you fight back when the child’s parents are seeking a divorce and you’re struggling to get time with your grandchildren.
If you’re worried about your rights as a grandparent being respected, contact us anytime by giving us a call or filling out the contact form below.
