Colorado Grandparents Rights Lawyers
Although much attention is paid to the visitation rights of the parents, one of the unfortunate aspects of divorce that a Colorado custody and divorce attorney may witness is the separation of children from one or even both sets of grandparents. Kaplan Law L.L.C. is pleased to offer the services of Colorado grandparents' rights lawyers as part of our team-based family law practice.
Grandparents' rights in Colorado are the result of the interaction of a United States Supreme Court with a ruling made by the Colorado Court of Appeals. In 2000, the US Supreme Court ruled that a Washington State statute which allowed grandparents to petition for visitation under a broad range of circumstances unfairly violated a parent's right to be the sole decision maker for the welfare of the child.
Two years later, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that a Colorado law giving grandparents rights to petition for visitation or custody under limited circumstances did not pose the same violation of a parent's rights.
Determine Standing
In the state of Colorado, grandparents must prove their standing in court before they are allowed to make any petition for visitation or custody rights to a child. A Colorado grandparents' rights attorney can help his or her client determine standing in one of three situations.
- Child's parents are legally divorced or separated, or if their marriage has been annulled
- Custody of the child has been awarded to someone other than the parents
- A child's parent or parents die
In the Child's Best Interests
Once a grandparent has proven his or her standing in relation to the child, he or she must prove that visitation or custody must be in the child's best interest. This process is an emotionally wrenching one for many grandparents. The Colorado custody and divorce lawyers of Kaplan Law have the experience to help grandparents through this troubling time.
Kaplan Law L.L.C.: A Family Law Team
The lawyers and paralegals of Kaplan Law practice as a team, giving our clients the benefit of a broad knowledge base of a larger law firm combined with the in-depth, personal attention of a solo attorney. The Colorado grandparents' rights lawyers of Kaplan Law stand ready to offer advice and representation for their clients as part of a family practice.
Have questions about visitation, custody or any other aspect of Colorado custody and divorce law? Please contact Kaplan Law L.L.C. to set up a consultation today.
