Tulsa Oklahoma Attorney for Grandparents Rights
Because Every Child Deserves a Grandparent’s Love
Few things in life mean as much as the bond between generations. Those bonds can sometimes be the key to success in a young person’s life. Because grandparents’ right to contribute to the success of future generations matter so much, my Tulsa law practice is committed to defending and extending grandparents’ legal rights in Oklahoma.
As an Oklahoma attorney for grandparents rights, I represent grandparents who need to initiate legal proceedings for visitation, for grandchild custody or guardianship, for grandparents to be foster parents, and to adopt grandchildren.
If you are a grandparent concerned that your grandchildren are not getting the grandparent time they deserve, I urge you to contact my office for a private, no-obligation consultation.
Before we approach a family court for a remedy, we will need to determine if you have standing, which means the legal right to get involved in a case. In most cases, when an intact nuclear family has been disrupted, an Oklahoma grandparent has standing to approach a court to formalize visitation with grandchildren. Grandparents sometimes ask for more. Especially where a pre-existing relationship existing, courts find good reasons under Oklahoma law to protect the relationship. And when circumstances require a new home, Oklahoma prefers family members when a child needs a new home.
Grandparents Visitation Rights
Visitation is among the most common reasons grandparents approach a court seeking grandparents rights. All most grandparents ask is that their grandchildren get to enjoy an ongoing relationship with their closest elders. When a parent refuses grandparent visitation, it can be necessary to file a motion. In many cases, court ordered visitation can be sought by the grandparents showing that the child would suffer harm if their relationship with the child were disrupted.
When circumstances disrupt a child’s nuclear family and the child has an active relationship with grandparents, courts can formally recognize grandparents visitation rights in Oklahoma. Unless both biological parents oppose a grandparent’s visitation, courts often can find it in the best interests of a child to award visitation to a grandparent.
Grandparents Foster Care Rights
When a court places a child in foster care, Oklahoma foster care law allows family members an opportunity to qualify as foster caregivers. Where grandparents are caring, responsible adults, placement with a grandparent can be a significant advantage over shuffling a child through the homes of strangers for foster care. Grandparents foster care can provide continuity and a sense of real family that might not otherwise be available.
Grandparents Custody Rights
Grandparents may, in some cases, ask for child custody — also called grandchild guardianship. Custody determinations can be somewhat permanent, subject to modification in the best interests of a child. When parents are unable or unavailable to provide adequate care for a child, grandparents often seek custody of the grandchild, which is considered a guardianship. Grandparents custody rights of grandchildren in Oklahoma take the form of a legal preference for placement with close family members when an intact nuclear family is disrupted.
Grandparents Adoption Rights
In working together to find the best permanent family arrangements for you and your grandchild, we might find the best approach would be to adopt a grandchild. When grandparent adoption in Oklahoma is the preferred option, my office can explain how to adopt a grandchild in Oklahoma assist you in preparing necessary paperwork, and presenting your case as qualified parents for your grandchild.
Don’t Navigate This Alone
A grandparents’s life experience can be an enormously valuable asset for a grandchild. Yet, a grandparent’s wisdom and experience is seldom enough to chart a legal course of action in family court. There is no need to go it alone. My job is to show courts why your relationship with your grandchild is the best thing for that child.
When you have a realistic sense of direction in your role as a grandparent, as an attorney for Oklahoma grandparents attorney I know how to get there. When you are unsure about the best direction, I can investigate your circumstances to determine whether visitation, foster care, guardianship or adoption is the best approach. Whatever course we pursue, our goal is to move swiftly and certainly so you can focus on spending these vital years with your family.
No-Obligation Consultation: Tulsa Grandparents Rights Attorney
To talk to a grandparents rights attorney in Tulsa Ok. about your family matter, call my office to set up an initial, no-cost, no-obligation consultation. Together, we can determine the best, most likely remedy for your family matter. To set up a grandparents rights consultation, call my office at (918) 994-3323 or click here to send the law firm a consultation request online.