Riley County Grandparents' Rights Attorneys

Protecting Grandparents’ Custody Rights in Kansas

When it comes to child custody and visitation rights, the parents are the first people who typically come to mind. Grandparents can also play a significant role in a child’s life, and there are certain cases where their rights must be protected. if you need help protecting your relationship with your grandchildren or want to learn more about grandparent rights in Kansas, call Jacobson & Fox, L.L.C.

Contact us online or at (785) 539-9300 to speak to one of our grandparent's rights attorneys today.

Grandparents Have Rights in Kansas

Grandparents can become just as attached to a grandchild as anyone. When the children's parent's relationship ends it can seriously put grandparents' time with the child at risk. This is where law firms like Jacobson & Fox, L.L.C. come in. We work with grandparents seeking visitation rights.

While the issue of grandparents' visitation rights is never straightforward and simple, under Kansas law grandparents have a legal right to request court-ordered visitations with their grandchildren after a divorce or death of a parent. A court would most likely grant visits with the child if the grandparents can prove they've established a substantial relationship with their grandchild.

Grandparent-Grandchild Visitation Rights

Grandparents making the legal request for child visitation rights have what's known as the "burden of proof." This just means they have the responsibility to provide evidence to the Kansas judge that they have a relationship and are a substantial part of the child's life. They also need to prove that visitation rights are in the best interests for the child.

The grandparent-grandchild relationship does not need to be current either. If the child's parent has interfered in a grandparents relationship the grandparent can provide the details of all their attempts to see or speak with the child. Once the case has been presented it is up to the judge. Kansas family courts always work to determine what is in the best interests for the child. A parent is typically presumed to act within the child's best interest and their opinion can carry weight in court. If they object to a grandparent visiting with the child, it is important to prove the parent is being unreasonable.

Do I have to be a Biological Grandparent to Win Visitation?

A grandparent does not need to be biologically related to the grandchild in this case. They do, however, have to be the biological parent of one of the child's parents. So, grandparents custody rights in Kansas do not extend to great grandparents or other relatives.

If you are a grandparent and have questions about your visitation rights, contact our custody rights attorneys at (785) 539-9300 and we will help you through the process. We accept cases throughout Geary County, Riley County, and the surrounding areas.