In the state of Georgia, grandparents have the right to seek visitation with their grandchildren. The current system allows grandparents to use this right in one of two ways:
A Georgia grandparent may file an original court action seeking visitation rights with their grandchild once every two years; grandparents cannot seek visitation rights if the child lives with both parents, and they have not separated.
A Georgia grandparent can join in on an existing legal action that concerns the custody or visitation rights of a grandchild, or an action for adoption.
Grandparents’ Visitation Rights in Georgia
The Georgia court typically awards grandparent visitation rights if the child’s welfare would be jeopardized by the denial of the request, or if the visitation is in the child’s best interest. In determining these rights, the court may also consider some of the following factors:
Did the minor child reside with the grandparent(s) for six months or more?
Has the grandparent provided financial support for a child’s needs for at least a year?
Is there a pattern of regular visitation or childcare from the grandparent?
If the answer to these questions is ‘yes,’ most courts will decree that the child would be harmed by denying the grandparent(s) the right to visitation.
We Help Grandparents Acquire and Maintain Visitation Rights
The family law attorneys at the law firm of Bivek Brubaker & Prescott, LLC are committed to putting children first. With the help of our compassionate and knowledgeable legal team, you can gain and maintain the right to visit and support your grandchild.
To schedule a 30-minute consultation to discuss your individual situation, please call us toll-free at 866-527-2630, or fill out our online contact form.
