At the law office of Kristen L. Campbell, LLC, we understand that deciding to take care of your grandchildren is not easy. We also understand that it could be disheartening to learn that grandparents have few legal rights in terms of Ohio custody actions.
However, we find that grandparents often have a relatively strong claim, especially in situations in which the parent is no longer able to provide for the child. Here are a few items that could help your own claim to custody.
Ohio State judges often give primary consideration to the well-being of a child. Therefore, any evidence you have of your good relationship with your grandchild could go a long way in a custody hearing. It is often effective to show documents to the effect that the child spends a lot of time with you, and that you provide care. Receipts, schedules and even text messages could all satisfy this requirement.
Photos or videos could also be helpful if they were to show a pattern of involvement. This type of evidence could be particularly useful if you could correlate the aforementioned receipts or other documentation with images of you together with happy, healthy children.
Certain evidence may support your argument that the child is better off with you. Some may also show the risks the child may face if he or she remains with the current custodian. Evidence of inability to care for a child comes in many forms. Some of these are documented, such as criminal convictions or incarcerations, while others may require you to perform significant investigation, such as abandonment or drug and alcohol addiction.
We understand that it requires a certain amount of conviction to take on the responsibility of caring for a grandchild. This is why we work diligently to secure the custodial rights we believe our clients deserve as grandparents. Please read on at our main website for more information.
