Grandparents-Where to get the forms to file for visitation?

Answer 1

If your state has grandparent visitation laws, check with the Clerk of the Court for Pro Se Forms in the county of jurisdiction. Check links for additional info. ---- If it finds that it is in the best interest of the child to do so, the court may grant reasonable access rights to either the maternal or paternal grandparents of the child whose parentchild relationship has been terminated or who has been adopted. Such relief shall not be granted unless one of the child's legal parents at the time the relief is requested is the child's natural parent.

Many states have laws regarding grandparents rights. Grandparents may request an order for access to a grandchild during a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. Grandparents may also request an order for access to a grandchild after entry of judgment in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship to which the grandparents were not parties.

In this area, we advise reviewing what the law in your state says regarding grandparents visitation or access. The attorneys in the organization can make suggestions, after reviewing what your law states.

If the grandparents are intervening in a divorce action joined with a suit affecting the parent-child relationship, venue will be provided by law for the divorce. If the action is an original suit affecting the parent-child relationship and the grandparents are filing a petition for further remedy, venue is where the child resides. If, however, the child's residence has changed since the last adjudication, the petitioners may wish to seek a transfer to the county of the child's present residence.

If the grandparents are bringing an original suit or petition for further remedy, the pleadings should be in accordance with the requirements of your state's statutes for a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

Grandparents, like others seeking conservatorship of, possession of, or access to a child, must show that the order they request would be in the best interest of the child.

Hire their own lawyer to establish grandparent rights. It's not usually very wise for the mom or dad's lawyer to also act as grandma or grandpa's lawyer. It is best to establish grandparent rights at the time of a divorce - not later. File a petition for grandparent rights while the divorce or paternity case is still active.

Keep track of all the times you see your grandchildren in a journal and write down all things you did with your grandchildren. Take lots of "happy"pictures showing what a good time you and the grandchildren have when you get together. Remember you may be the only port that protects your grandchildren from the legal storms brewed up by their parents. Create an atmosphere of peace and fun during your visits with the grandchildren. Don't talk about the mom and dad's problems unless the grandchildren specifically ask you about them.

Don't take sides between two warring parents in front of your grandchildren. Support your child in private. Never say bad things about either of your grandchildren's parents - this can be psychologically harmful to your grandchildren. Don't sit on your rights as grandparents. Get into court and get your rights established. This is not interring in your children's lives but is protecting the needs of your grandchildren to have a relationship with you. Lots of research has shown that grandparents are very important in lives of children going through divorce or child custody battles.

All fifty states of have laws allowing for grandparent visitation. These laws vary from state to state, but the vast majority of states allow grandparent's to have visitation rights following divorce or the death of one parent. Many states also allow grandparents visitation rights in situations where the parents where never married. Some states allow grandparents to have visitation rights following a stepparent adoption. Almost no states allow grandparents visitation in cases where both natural parents are still married or living together unless the natural parents approve the visitation.

In order for grandparents to have legally enforceable rights, they must get a court order establishing a grandparent visitation schedule. This order is often made in a divorce decree at the time of the natural parents' divorce. However, grandparent visitation schedules can be established after a divorce has been finalized.

Usually, grandparents must file a petition to establish their rights. This petition will normally say that it is in the best interests of the minor children to have visitation with the grandparents. If the petition is contested all the way to a hearing in front of the court, the grandparents will have to prove that it is in their grandchildren's best interests to have a separate visitation schedule with them. Generally, grandparent's will have to show that they have a warm, loving and nurturing relationship with their grandchildren - or it will have to be shown how the objecting parent has interfered with the establishment of such a relationship. Here are some questions you will need to answer: # How often did you see the child?

# Under what circumstances did you see the child?

# What activities did you do together?

# Did you visit alone with the children or only when parents were present?

# Did you ever babysit?

# Did you read stories together?

# Did you take walks together?

# Did you go shopping together?

# Did the child ever spend the night at your house - when?

# What is your grandchild's birth date?

# What is your grandchild's favorite story? Game?

# Do you know your grandchild's medical history?

# Why do you believe visitation was stopped?

# Is there disagreement between you and parent as to the child's raising?

# What is your goal?

# How often do you want visitation? See related link below

Answer 2

The info for your state is here http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2135168/grandparents-rights-and-custody-in-Indiana