Good Fences And Not So Good Neighbors: Property Law 101

4 Circumstances Under Which You Can Get Custody Of Grandchild

26 October 2017 by Hunter Moore

There is a general consensus among government agencies that children are better off with their parents than anybody else. This is why parents are given priority during custody deliberations. However, there are also cases in which grandparents can gain custody of their grandkids.  Here are four examples of those cases:

The Parents Have Abandoned the Child

One of the easiest ways of getting custody of your grandchild is to prove that the parents have abandoned the child. This method works especially well if the child is too young to take care of themselves. For example, if the parents frequently go out and leave the child to fend for themselves or have been away on an extended "vacation" and the child is basically living alone, you can step in as the grandparent to save the day.

The Parents Have Been Abusing the Child

Child abuse is a real danger in the society, and the government is doing all it can to stomp on it. Child abuse comes in different forms such as:

• Denying the child food
• Physically beating up the child
• Denying the child medical care
• Involving the child in sexual acts

Apart from interfering with the physical health of the child, most forms of abuse also have psychological effects on the victim. Thereof, prove that the parents are abusing the child if you want to take the child away from them.

The Parent's Are Drug Addicts

Proving that a child's parents are abusing drugs isn't an automatic way of getting custody of the child. However, proving that the parents are abusing drugs and the abuse is making it difficult for them to take care of the child may help your custody battles. A good example is when the parents are spending all their money on drugs and alcohol instead of taking care of the child's needs.

The Parents Are Too Sick To Take Care of the Child

Even the best parents in the world will struggle to take care of their child if they are sick. This applies both to physical and mental illnesses. For example, a parent suffering from total paralysis may not be able to take care of a young child. Another example is a mentally ill parent who doesn't even know what their child needs at any time. As the child's grandparent, you can file for custody and make sure the child's needs are met.

You have to prove your case to convince the court to give you custody of your kids. A custody attorney can help you convince the court of your stand.

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