As a grandparent living in Ohio, there are unfortunately very few laws dedicated to protecting your rights. However, the Law Office of Kristen L. Campbell, LLC, will be here to help you explore your options if you are looking to seek legal rights regarding your grandchild.
Though you may be limited in terms of when you can seek legal rights, there are a few situations in which it’s possible. These situations include parental abandonment of your grandchildren, or if their parents have:
- Been convicted of domestic abuse
- Formed an addiction to drugs or alcohol
- Been incarcerated
- Been deployed overseas
- Passed away
It can be difficult for grandparents like you to prove that you are more fit to parent your grandchildren than their actual parents unless the parents are removed from the situation. The simplest form of removal involves them physically being incapable of parenting, such as when they are arrested or move to a distant location.
Other cases that hinge on proving abuse, violence or neglect can be harder to prove. Establishing custody can happen after child protective services come in to intervene in a situation where chemical dependency, abuse or neglect are involved. After it has been established that these issues are occurring, the process of establishing rights can be easier..
If you are a grandparent looking into the possibility of having a larger legal hand in the life of your grandchild, you might want to visit our webpage on grandparents’ rights, linked here. You will be able to find more information about the legal details, which can help prepare you for your case and understand what is and isn’t possible.
