Grandparents Rights Lawyer in Mechanicsburg, PA

Harrisburg Pennsylvania Area Custody Attorney

While Pennsylvania family law primarily looks to share legal and physical custody between the parents of the children, there are situations where grandparents are successfully able to secure either partial custody or visitation rights. Pennsylvania’s Grandparents Visitation Act allows grandparents in certain circumstances to petition for legal and physical custody of a minor child.

Traditional Grandparents Rights:

1. Upon the death of a birth parent
2. When parents are divorced or separated and do not agree on whether the child should have contact with the Grandparent
3. When a child has resided with a grandparent for 12 months or more, followed by the child being removed by a parent

Like most family law dealing with custody in Pennsylvania, the best interest of the child is the driving force in making decisions around custody and visitation. Beyond the criteria listed above, the grandparent must also be able to demonstrate that their custody of visitation serves the best interest of the child, and their involvement also can not interfere with a child-parent relationship.

Sadly, there are times when an adult child is unable to care for their own children and the Grandparent must step in to act as a parent to their grandchild.  Each of these situations come with their own set of challenges but the law does provide for a Grandparent to petition for legal and physical custody of a child who is not being cared for properly.  We are here to provide assistance in this very sensitive situation.  Please contact us for a consultation.

Help for Children Whose Parents are Unfit - New Legislation for Third Parties to Step In and Help

In addition to traditional Grandparents’ rights cases, there are also times when a grandparent or an unrelated third party may need to step in for the best interest and protection of the child. Recent legislation has made this possible. These cases may involve challenging issues such as:

• Alcoholism
• Substance Abuse / Drug Addiction
• Criminal Activity / Jail / Prison
• Mental Illness
• Child Abuse / Domestic Abuse

I understand that these issues can be extremely difficult to confront or document, but it also takes much more than an accusation that a parent is unfit for the court to look for alternative custody arrangements. If you have questions about how to take the first step in protecting a child that you feel may be neglected or in danger I can help.

Free Consultation - Contact a Harrisburg, PA Area Grandparents Rights Lawyer Today

I provide a free initial consultation to allow potential clients to meet me, explain their issue and get a feel for my approach to resolving their issues. I am happy to have a conversation on the phone or arrange a meeting in my office. Call 717-458-5921 to take the first step towards securing your place in your grandchild’s life today.