Grandparents’ Rights in California

La Mesa Grandparents' Rights Attorney

Since 1992, I have been working as a La Mesa grandparents' rights lawyer to help grandparents win custody and visitation rights in San Diego and throughout Southern California. When it comes to child custody cases, the state of California has a specific set of guidelines to help determine which rights are given to grandparents. As with all of my custody cases, my priority is to settle as many issues as possible outside of the courtroom, thus saving the family from any unnecessary stress and legal fees. Mediation, arbitration, and other collaborative methods allow for a safe space where everyone can voice their desires and concerns, and hopefully come to an agreement that is in the best interests of the child.

Are you a grandparent seeking custody or visitation rights in California? Call (619) 304-8499 to see how a La Mesa grandparents' rights attorney can help. I serve San Diego, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, La Mesa, and the surrounding areas.

When Can a Grandparent Request Visitation Rights?

Under California law, grandparents can ask for reasonable visitation if two conditions are met. The first condition is that there must have been a pre-existing relationship between the child and grandparent to the extent that granting visitation would be in the best interests of the child. The second condition requires the courts to balance the best interests of the child in having visitation with the grandparents, with the parents' rights to make decisions about their child. Furthermore, with a few exceptions, grandparents usually cannot file for visitation rights if the child's parents are married.

These exceptions include:

• It is found that parents are living separately
• One parent's whereabouts have been unknown for over a month
• One of the parents supports the grandparent's petition for visitation
• The child is currently not living with either of his or her parents
• The child's legal guardian is a stepparent

If these exceptions are no longer met, one or both parents can request that the court revoke visitation rights.

If you are seeking to obtain visitation rights to see your grandchildren, give me a call at (619) 304-8499. I am prepared to put my experience as a seasoned La Mesa grandparents' rights lawyer on your side.