Grandparent Issues

There are times when a child may be better off with a grandparent than his or her mother or father. In these cases, it’s possible for a grandparent to get legal guardianship or child custody. However, in most cases following divorce, grandparents who want to remain an active part of the child’s life will need to negotiate with the parents. If this becomes a challenge, an experienced family lawyer in New Paltz, Rochester or anywhere else in the Ulster County, NY area can help.

Skilled, compassionate divorce attorney Jonathan D. Katz has over 36 years of experience with child custody cases, many involving grandparents’ visitation rights. This unique circumstance is more common in cases involving divorced or single parents. Sometimes the grandparents are in need of legal counsel. Other times, the parents themselves may need legal advice about the limiting the involvement of over-involved grandparents. Regardless of the situation, Mr. Katz can be the voice of reason and calm in what can turn into a heated argument that is not in the best interests of the children.

New York law does not recognize a grandparent’s right to access to a grandchild as a general proposition. Under certain circumstances, however, a grandparent can try to prove that he or she has established an important relationship with a child, that recognizing and continuing that relationship is in the child’s best interests, and that a particular schedule of visitation is fair to all concerned.

Mr. Katz represents parents and grandparents across New York in matters of child custody and visitation. When the issue of grandparent visitation rights comes up, he will fight for the best interest of the child. Over the years, he has this is not a one-size-fits-all situation. Sometimes, a grandparent’s involvement is good for the child, other times, depending on the relationship of all parties involved, enforcing grandparent visitation is not in the best interests of the children.

If you or someone you know is getting divorced in Saugerties, Highland, Kingston, New Paltz, Poughkeepsie, Woodstock or anywhere else in Ulster County, NY, talk to an attorney who is extremely knowledgeable about local child custody law with regard to grandparents’ visitation rights. Put Mr. Katz’s knowledge of the Ulster County, NY Family Court system to work for you. Contact him today for a confidential consultation at (845) 834-4747 or at toll-free (866) 614-8872. Or, fill out our convenient online contact form and request your no-obligation consultation.