Grandparents’ Rights Lawyers in Lawrenceburg & Williamson County

Our Grandparents’ Rights Lawyers Can Aid You in Seeking Visitation with Your Grandchild

Being a grandparent is truly a unique and wonderful experience, and for most grandparents, nothing is more magical than a day spent with their grandchildren. In the event of conflict between parents–and parents and grandparents–a grandparent’s visitation rights with the grandchildren may be in jeopardy. If your grandchild’s parents have divorced or/and you have been denied visitation with your grandchild, our grandparents’ rights lawyers are here to help you understand your options.

What the Law Says About Grandparents’ Rights

As found in Tennessee Code Section 36-6-306, if a grandparent’s visitation with a grandchild is opposed by the child’s parents, a grandparent may file a petition for visitation with the court if:

• Either parent of the child is deceased;
• The child’s parents are divorced or legally separated;
• Either parent has been missing for at least six months;
• Another state’s court has issued an order for visitation for the grandparent and grandchild;
• The child lived with the grandparent for at least 12 months and then was removed from the home by the parent(s); or
• The child and the grandparent maintained a close relationship for 12 months or more, and the parents chose to sever that relationship for reasons other than abuse or harm to the child.

In the event that one of the above is true, the grandparent has the right to a hearing before the court. The court will likely grant the grandparent visitation rights if the grandparent can prove that he or she has a significant and loving relationship with the child, the grandparent is a primary caregiver, and the disruption of this would result in harm to the child, or/and the loss of the relationship would be harmful to the child. In addition, the best interests of the child will always be considered.

Factors considered when determining the best interests of the child, as they pertain to a grandparent’s visitation, include:

• The length of the relationship between the child and grandparent;
• The quality of the relationship;
• Emotional ties between grandchild and grandparent;
• The willingness of the grandparent to foster a healthy relationship between the child and their parent(s);
• The child’s preferences; and
• The good faith of the grandparent.

Things like a parenting time schedule will also be considered when making a determination in a grandparent visitation case.

Our Lawrenceburg Grandparents’ Rights Attorneys are Here to Advocate for You

Being denied visitation rights with your grandchild can be a heart-wrenching experience. With the exception of cases involving abuse, grandparents deserve to spend time with the grandchildren they dearly love.

At the law offices of The Long Firm, LLC, we know that you may be intimidated by the process of filing a petition for visitation, going to court, and asking for time with your grandchildren. Our lawyers are here to handle all the legal elements of your case and represent you throughout the process. We can gather evidence to support your case, file your petition, and advocate for you in the courtroom.

For your free consultation, please send our lawyers a message, or contact us by phone today.