Grandchildren are one of life’s most precious gifts, but family life can be messy. Your son or daughter may not be capable of parenting, or maybe something has happened, and they are no longer granting you access to your grandchild.
Washington State has long recognized that a grandparent relationship is generally in the best interests of the child. But what are your rights as a grandparent, and how can we help?
It can be heartbreaking to learn that one or both of your grandchild’s parents no longer wants you to have a relationship with them. If you have an ongoing and substantial relationship with your grandchild, you may be able to ask the court to step in and allow visits between you and the child.
The law has been evolving on the issue of grandparent visitation in Washington, with parents having strong constitutional rights to parent their children. The grandparent must show that denial of the visitation would result in harm to the child. One of our skilled family law attorneys can help you understand the legal system and navigate your options while working hard to reduce conflict.
If you believe your grandchild’s parents cannot appropriately tend to their needs, you can petition to be the guardian of a minor. You may be a well-qualified candidate for this role as you probably share culture, traditions, have a strong relationship with the child, and could provide a loving, stable home. But to pursue guardianship, you must be willing to swear to the court that the parents, and this could include your own child, is unable or unwilling to parent.
Such Assertions of Failure Might Include:
If you are considering guardianship of a minor, it is essential to retain a skilled, experienced attorney who can educate you on the laws and your rights. The laws are complex, and the process can be daunting, but if your family is your first priority, we will stand by your side and help you ensure their future success.
If your son or daughter has confided in you that they will be divorcing, it may be hard not to want to swoop in and “fix” it. After all, your job has been to make sure they are successful in the world.
One of the most important things you can do is listen. Any shock, dismay, or disappointment should be contained. Regardless of who leaves whom, you do not want to pick sides and paint the other person as a villain. Life happens, divorce happens, and if there are kids involved, you want to do everything you can to help minimize conflict between the parents and support a positive outcome that keeps the kid’s long-term success your primary objective.
Did we say listen? You may find yourself doing a lot of listening. Your child will likely go through a period of mourning and experience a number of emotional states before coming to acceptance. They may even take some of their emotions out on you because you have and always will be there. Try not to take it personally. If they need your support, offer whatever assistance you can.
You cannot fight this battle for them. Our best advice is to stay the course of the supportive parent who wants what is best for their child and family. They will heal, and you will have further strengthened your relationship.
The investment you make in comprehensive estate planning will allow you to secure your legacy through the distribution of your assets to your grandchildren. Our team of professional estate planning attorneys can help create and maintain an estate plan that gives you peace of mind.
Far too many families end up fighting, or at least experiencing tension, over a family inheritance, but it does not have to be that way. Having counseled families for years, we offer the following advice to help your family avoid fighting over your property — while you are here and after you die.
Establishing paternity and parentage is important for many families and parents. Regardless of why you want to establish paternity and parentage, the process has the potential to be confusing, especially if you are unfamiliar with the terms and rules for…
As a mom of four (now adult) kids, I remember well the flood of emotions that came each time they went to my ex’s, especially during the early days of my separation and eventually after my divorce. Not only was…
In Washington state, if you are involved in a custody dispute, which involves difficult questions related to specific needs for your children or serious parenting deficits (such as mental health, substance abuse, or domestic violence), an evaluation service may be…
Divorce can be an emotionally grueling process, especially when you have children. In addition to coming to terms with how your own day-to-day is going to evolve, your children, too, will have to get used to seeing their lives change,…
Divorce can be a time of confusion and complexity. In addition to any emotional or other stress, your divorce can impact both your and your ex’s will. Therefore, it is important to understand what that impact may be and what…
For parents, divorce often raises many questions surrounding extracurricular activities. These questions usually include whether the children will get to participate in the extracurricular activities (sports, performing arts classes, music lessons, art classes, etc.) they did before the divorce, expanded…
Becoming a single parent, especially after being married and having a partner to share in the physical and emotional labor, can be a challenging transition. The role of single parent, even for those in a healthy co-parenting relationship with their…
The expression “in sickness and in health” is common in wedding ceremonies of all faiths. So when most people recite these words, it is probably safe to assume that they envision themselves married at a time when the unthinkable may…
Until 1987, Washington, like most states, awarded “custody” of the children to one of the parents at the conclusion of a divorce or separation case. This changed with the passage of the Parenting Act. Today, instead of ordering child custody,…
Estate planning is one of the most important actions unmarried couples can take to provide themselves with certain protections under the law. Because unmarried couples do not have the same legal authority, this can present issues should one of the…
As a co-parent during or following divorce, you may no longer have the authority to make certain unilateral decisions regarding your children’s health and well-being. The restrictions on making decisions unilaterally are most commonly related to matters that are considered…
Choosing fiduciaries is crucial to estate planning. In any one estate plan, there could be a variety of roles that a fiduciary might fill, such as an executor, agent, or trustee. It need not be a person either; a fiduciary…
Raising teenagers can be difficult under any circumstances, but add divorce to what can already be a difficult time in child's life and many parents feel find themselves grasping. We have gathered some of the most important things you can do as a parent to help your teenager man...
A revocable trust or living trust is an instrument created, as part of your overall estate plan, for the purpose of protecting your assets, including investments, during your lifetime. It can also allow for a smoother transition of said assets…