Your family is important to you, so when you’re denied the right to see your grandchildren, it cuts deep. You might feel like a part of you is missing without them in your life. That’s hard enough to take, but it is even worse when you know their lives are worse without you.
Is your relationship with your grandchildren more like that of a parent and child? Alternatively, are you worried that they will experience real harm without your presence in their lives? If either is true, you may have the right to seek legal recourse. Our grandparent rights lawyers in Glastonbury can help you take action.
The team at Rich Rochlin Family Law has over 37 years of combined experience working to help families resolve their problems. Call today to tell us about your challenges and find out how our Glastonbury child custody lawyers can help.
What Are Grandparent Rights?
Grandparents’ rights are your legal ability to seek visitation or custody of your grandchildren. Because courts generally prioritize parental authority, grandparents must demonstrate that their involvement is essential for the child’s well-being.
Visitation rights allow grandparents to legally spend time with their grandchildren, even against the parents’ wishes. Custody rights may be granted if the parents are found unfit. In some cases, grandparents may also seek adoption.
When ruling, courts consider several factors, including the strength of the existing relationship between grandparent and grandchild, the emotional and physical well-being of the child, and whether denying visitation would be harmful to the child.
Call today for a consultation with a grandparent rights lawyer serving Glastonbury (860) 357-9158
How Can a Grandparents’ Rights Attorney Help?
It’s smart to get legal assistance with something as important as the welfare of your grandchildren. Some of the ways our Glastonbury family lawyers can help include:
- Provide Legal Advice: Our attorneys will evaluate your situation, explain your legal options, and outline relevant laws to determine the strength of your potential case.
- File Petitions: We will prepare and file formal legal documents with the court, as well as make sure all necessary evidence and information is included.
- Represent You in Court: In the courtroom, our grandparent rights attorneys in Glastonbury will argue on your behalf, presenting arguments and evidence that show your role is essential to the child’s stability, safety, or emotional well-being.
- Mediation or Negotiation: We may work directly with the child’s parents or their lawyers to reach a fair agreement, avoiding stressful litigation and promoting cooperative family relationships.
- Advocate for the Child’s Well-Being: Our attorneys can emphasize how your continued presence supports the child’s development, mental health, and daily life.
Glastonbury Grandparent Rights Lawyer Near Me (860) 357-9158
How to Petition for Grandparent Rights in Glastonbury
Grandparents in Connecticut can legally petition for visitation rights under Connecticut General Statutes § 46b‑59. However, it is important to follow the correct procedures to keep your case in good standing. Our Glastonbury grandparent rights lawyers can help you through the process.
Understand the Legal Standards
To win visitation, you must prove two things:
- You had a parent-like relationship with your grandchild
- Ending this relationship would cause real and significant harm to the child’s emotional or mental well-being.
Prove a Parent-Like Relationship
The court needs evidence that you were more than a typical grandparent. You acted as a primary caregiver or daily support figure, building a deep emotional bond through consistent involvement in the child’s life.
Prove Real and Significant Harm
It’s not enough to show that the child would be unhappy without you. You must prove, often with expert support, that denying contact would seriously harm the child’s health, development, or emotional stability.
File the Verified Petition
Complete and submit Form JD-FM-221 to the Connecticut Superior Court. The petition must include detailed sworn statements outlining your role and explaining why visitation is necessary for the child’s well-being.
Serve the Petition
After filing, a state marshal must deliver the petition to the child’s parents. This ensures they’re legally notified. You must then file proof of service with the court to proceed.
Attend a Hearing
At the court hearing, both sides present evidence. You’ll need to show documentation, witness statements, or expert testimony supporting your case and demonstrating that visitation serves the child’s best interest.
Court Decision and Orders
If the judge agrees, they’ll issue an order with specific terms such as how often visits occur, where, and under what conditions. This step is designed to ensure the arrangement supports the child’s needs and stability.
Click to contact our Glastonbury Child Custody Lawyers today
Grandparent Rights Attorney in Glastonbury
If you are denied the right to participate in your grandchildren’s lives and you believe they are suffering because of your lack of involvement, you have options. You may have the right to petition the court for visitation or even custody, but you’ll need to meet specific legal bars.
To prove your case, you must show that your grandchildren have or will experience harm because of your absence. Our grandparent rights attorneys in Glastonbury can help you understand how to proceed with your case.
At Rich Rochlin Family Law, our goal is to help families. That includes grandparents who have been treated unfairly and the children who suffer unnecessarily because of it. Call today and set up a consultation to discuss your concerns.
Let us help navigate your family legal matters schedule your consultation now.
