Grandparents Rights

Child visitation rights do not only extend to parents.  The grandparents of children may have visitation rights as well.  In many cases, the grandparents’ role in the child’s life is crucial.  Grandparents provide grandchildren with love, support, nurturing, and stability.  New York courts recognize the bond grandparents can have with their grandchildren and may act to preserve an existing bond by granting grandparents visitation rights under certain circumstances (such as death of a parent or unjustified termination of a close relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren).  In some rare cases, grandparents may also be granted custody of their grandchildren.  In these cases, the child’s parents are usually proven unfit, negligent, or incapable of providing satisfactory care.

Grandparental Rights and Child Custody
If the court feels that a child’s parents are incapable of providing adequate care or are that they are negligent or unfit, the court may award custody to the child’s grandparents.  As with all child custody cases, the court will take into consideration the best interests of the child.  The court will also review several factors before awarding a grandparent custody.  These factors may include:

• the child’s age
• the child’s health
• the child’s preference (if above a certain age)
• the grandparent’s health
• the grandparent’s lifestyle
• the emotional bond between the child and the grandparent
• the grandparent’s ability to provide for the child’s needs
• the grandparent’s financial situation
• the child’s current way of life

After carefully reviewing these factors, the court may decide to grant the grandparent custody. 

Long Island Family and Business Law Firm
Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. is a reputable family and business law firm servicing the New York Metropolitan area.  We represent men, women, families, and businesses.  Our team is comprised of experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate attorneys who strive to protect the best interests of our clients and their families.  As an accomplished family and business law firm, we have handled a variety of cases involving divorce, child custody, and child support.  Our firm also provides legal counsel for clients with real estate and estate planning endeavors. 

When our attorneys undertake a case, we put forth every effort into ensuring the comfort and security of our client.  It is our primary aim to protect and guide our clients through these emotionally turbulent times.  At Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C., we are committed to providing our clients with high quality legal representation at a reasonable cost.

Contact Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C.

Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. is proud to provide legal representation for clients in the New York Metropolitan area, including:  Long Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, New York City, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Rockland Counties, and New Jersey.