Grandparent and Third-Party Custody and Visitation

In standard custody arrangements, custody rights are typically granted to the biological or legal parent of the child, such as the mother or father. However, in certain situations, custody rights may be awarded to a third party, known as “third-party” custody cases. These cases arise when someone other than the child’s biological or legal parents, such as grandparents or close relatives, is granted custody or guardianship. Addiction and mental health concerns can often play a role in these cases.

In standard custody arrangements, custody rights are typically granted to the biological or legal parent of the child, such as the mother or father. However, in certain situations, custody rights may be awarded to a third party, known as “third-party” custody cases. These cases arise when someone other than the child’s biological or legal parents, such as grandparents or close relatives, is granted custody or guardianship. Addiction and mental health concerns can often play a role in these cases.

• When neither parent is deemed fit to care for the child.
• When the primary custodial parent has passed away and custody with the remaining parent would pose physical or emotional harm to the child, thus making custody with a third party the best option.
• When the child has been residing with a third-party individual for an extended period and a parent consents to guardianship with that third party.

Child custody matters are intricate, and they often involve the expertise of child psychologists and other professionals. At our firm, we collaborate with leading experts in these fields to handle complex custody cases with care and diligence.