Divorce is an incredibly emotional and difficult process. This is especially true when there are children involved. But, there are other parties that may be impacted as well. In fact, divorce can be hard on grandparents. If you are a grandparent, you may be wondering how a divorce may impact your relationship with your grandchild. Read on to learn more about grandparents’ rights when it comes to visitation in New Jersey.
Do grandparents have automatic visitation rights?
Unfortunately, grandparents do not have visitation rights when it comes to their grandchildren. If the child’s parents decide that they do not want you to see the child, there is little you can do about it. That being said, you can petition for visitation through the court. In order to do this, you will need the help of an experienced family law attorney.
How does a court make a decision about visitation?
New Jersey courts take visitation rights very seriously. This is because they are working to do what is in the child’s best interests. As a result, there are a number of different factors that will be considered in order to make this decision. These factors may include:
- The grandparent’s relationship with the child’s parents
- The time that has passed since the last contact with the child and the reason for any lapse in time
- The bond between the child and grandparent
- Whether these visitation rights will have a positive or negative impact on the child
- The good faith of the applicant, meaning there are no ulterior motives behind his or her applying for visitation rights
- The custody arrangement that the parents have
- Any history of abuse, neglect, substance abuse, on the part of the grandchild
- Any other factor relevant to the court
If you have any questions or concerns about grandparents’ visitation rights in New Jersey, our firm is here to help. Reach out today to discuss your case with an experienced and dedicated attorney.
Contact our Firm
We understand that those getting a divorce most likely have several questions regarding the weeks and months to come. Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC is honored to serve the people of New Jersey, including Sparta, Sussex County, Morris County, Passaic County, and Bergen County with the quality legal services they deserve. If you are getting a divorce or have any other questions regarding divorce-related matters, please do not hesitate to contact our firm for a consultation today.
