Many grandparents hear that their child is getting a divorce and they have a lot of questions about how to help and if they’ll get to keep seeing their grandchildren. Some grandparents even find it necessary to get involved in the proceedings and seek custody. Here are some questions that grandparents frequently ask, and their answers.

1. What is the best way to support my child during divorce and custody proceedings? This question has as many answers as there are custody situations. No custody case is the same, and different people will need different help. The basic help that a grandparent can provide is emotional support. A grandparent can listen to their children, and the grandchildren, without judgement. They can also offer feedback to the parent when requested. Some parents may need more help with the children during this time, and grandparents can step in and help babysit. They can also provide financial help if the resources are available to them. If a grandparent really wants to know, they can simply ask their child what the child wants them to do.

2. Do grandparents have legal visitation rights to the grandchildren? This varied according to the state where you live, but generally a grandparent doesn’t have legal visitation. This changes if the grandparents have been awarded custody, or there are extenuating circumstances in the court. However, the best way for most grandparents to continue seeing their grandchildren is to maintain a relationship with the parents. Grandparents can plan on their child having some visitation time, and they can see the granchildren then. If it’s appropriate, grandparents can continue a relationship with the other parent and offer to babysit or watch the children to see them more.

3. How does a grandparent talk about the divorce and custody issues with the grandchildren? This is a hard question for some grandparents, and it depends on the children. Grandparents should leave most of the explaining to the parents, and offer only neutral comments if the children ask. Grandparents should not speak negatively of either parent in the presence of the children. If a child has questions, the grandparent should give a short explanation and inform the parent about it. Grandparents can listen to their grandchildren and ask them questions to find out how they’re handling things. The important thing is for the children to feel loved and supported.

4. Can grandparents get legal custody of the grandchildren? Grandparents can get custody of the children if neither parent is considered capable by the courts. In order for this to happen, the grandparent must have a history of taking care of the children in the parent’s absence. Courts prefer to grant parental custody, but if the grandparent can make a compelling case based on history and other circumstances that the child will do best with them, the courts can give them custody.

5. What is guardianship and how does it differ from custody? Many grandparents seek guardianship rather than custody because it is easier. Guardianship means that the grandparents can make legal decisions for their grandchildren and can fulfill many parental roles. This can happen if a parent and grandchildren move in with the grandparents. Both will have responsibility of the children.

Although many people will tell you otherwise, child custody disputes can be very complex, and the more people suing for visitation rights; the messier it becomes. If grandparents are suing for visitation, parents have moved far away from each other, and now there are even step parents involved, child custody after divorce becomes a long drawn our expensive legal battle. You need expert help for child custody after divorce, and this means seeking a family lawyer to help you. Just remember though, the longer and more complicated the battle is for child custody after divorce, the more it is going to cost you, and the more it will affect everyone emotionally. If parents were initially more educated on child custody arrangements, then it would turn out better for everyone concerned, and better agreements could be reached that are the least unsettling for the children. One factor that should be kept in mind regarding child custody after divorce, is that the court will choose the best possible arrangement in the interests of the Childs well being.

In child custody disputes, both mums and dads will fight to get custody of the children, and the parent that proves them self the most worthy, will get favor by the court if they feel the best interests lie with that parent. The best possible option parents can consider concerning child custody after divorce is educating them selves as much as possible on child custody, and there are expert guides available to do so. The court will take a lot of factors into consideration when awarding ‘physical custody’ and ‘legal custody’. Some examples of these are the parents’ careers, lifestyles, their financial strength, family stability, and new relationship after the divorce if any. Disputes over child Custody after divorce cases can take a while to solve, and parents can resort to mud slinging, with all sorts of tactics to gain favor with the court.

During child custody after divorce disputes, both parents will have a lawyer present, and a lot of information will be gathered on the parent’s circumstances from the paying of child support, the well being of children, and legal and physical custody arrangements between the parents. A lot of trauma can be avoided early on by seeking expert custody advice and education, and even legal costs can be reduced to save you a small fortune. Our expert psychologists at our Custody Advice Center offer you complete solutions that you can download in minutes. Read detailed information on child custody after divorce, real scenarios and advice, and everything you ever need to know about child custody online.