| Grandparents love their grandchildren and when | | | | the best interest of the children” and this is the |
| problems occur with the parents, in some cases their | | | | standard for the courts. Unless the grandparent can |
| relationship with their grandchildren is reduced or even | | | | show that the children are harmed by the change in |
| taken away. Some are not willing to lose this | | | | the relationship, the courts are likely to do nothing. |
| important familial relationship and will fight for Georgia | | | | - When parents are deemed unfit to care for the |
| grandparent’s rights. The scenarios include: | | | | children grandparents are faced with another dilemma. |
| - The grandparent may have had a disagreement | | | | In some instances, the state has assumed custody |
| with the parents. The parents are refusing to let the | | | | of the children before the grandparents know what |
| grandparents see the children. In Georgia, judges | | | | has happened. If the state puts the children up for |
| have been reluctant to overrule a parent’s | | | | adoption, the grandparent may want a chance to |
| objections unless the grandparents can show | | | | adopt. In situations where the parent has his or her |
| “harm” if there is no visitation. In other | | | | parental rights taken away, the grandparent has a |
| words, if two parents who are still married to each | | | | good chance at adoption. The grandparents would |
| other that agree that the children should not see the | | | | have to prove that they are stable and are healthy |
| grandparents and the children are healthy and | | | | enough to provide a good home. Grandparents raising |
| well-cared for, there may be little the grandparent | | | | grandchildren has increased in recent years. Statistics |
| can do. | | | | from the 2000 U.S. Census show that 6.3%, or 4.5 |
| - When parents divorce the children’s relationship | | | | million, of American children under the age of 18 live |
| with their grandparents may change. Children who are | | | | in grandparent-headed households. |
| used to spending weekends with a favored | | | | As the definition of a traditional family has changed in |
| grandparent are now spending every other weekend | | | | recent years, the court rulings have often reflected |
| with their non-custodial parent. The split parenting | | | | these changes. Georgia grandparent’s rights are |
| arrangement may leave little time for the | | | | decided just like any other case based on the |
| grandparent to spend time with the child. As stated | | | | premise listed above, “what is in the best |
| above, the courts almost always favor the | | | | interest of the child?” Any grandparent who has |
| parent’s time with the child over the | | | | concerns about the welfare of their grandchildren |
| grandparent’s time. The keywords are “in | | | | should contact a Georgia family law attorney. |