Monday 6 February 2017

How Realistic Is The Grandparent Custody Durham NC Seniors Want

By Amy Morgan


When people have children most assume those children will grow up, find a partner, settle down and start a family of their own. When individuals think about having grandchildren, they probably envision visiting them and taking them out for treats. Then the grandparents go back home having enjoyed the time spent. Unfortunately in Durham, NC and elsewhere, there seems to be a growing trend where grandparents end up raising their grandchildren. In Durham, NC when they seek official grandparent custody Durham NC seniors sometimes find it confusing and frustrating however.

Parenting styles vary from household to household, and sometimes the older generation does not approve of the way their children are handling the day to day challenges of parenting. They may object strongly about everything from what the grandchildren eat to how they are disciplined. There is rarely anything they can do about it however, because removing children from the parental home is something social services and courts try to avoid.

Grandparents may be able to seek legal rights to grandchildren if there is drug abuse or illegal drug activity in the home. Not all states recognize abuse of illegal substances sufficient grounds for removing the child from the parental home however. You may have to prove parents actually gave drugs to the children. In some states ingesting drugs during pregnancy is considered child abuse, but not in all.

Most often parents simply give up their rights to children. They either drop off the children one day and don't return, or gradually leave the children in the grandparents care for longer and longer periods of time until the parent simply drifts away. Most grandparents willingly accept the unexpected responsibility.

Death and incarceration are two events that take parents from their children suddenly. In these cases, the grandparents may decide to leave the situation as it is after filing any paperwork necessary so they have can make important decision on the children's behalf. Other grandparents try to make legal custodial care arrangements through the court system.

Grandparents determined to get legal guardianship of their grandchildren often have a difficult time convincing the court they should have custodial care. They have more influence with a judge if they have already taken primary responsibility of the minors because the parents have abandoned their rights, have been proven abusive, or have been convicted of a serious crime. Grandparents will also have to prove granting them guardianship is in the best interest of the children.

Seniors involved in these types of situations should clearly understand that guardianship is not the same as adoption. If the parent's circumstances change, and they can prove they have the means and the ability to safely raise their children, the courts can, and often do, return the minors to the parental home and terminate the custodial rights of the grandparents.

Tensions can run high when it comes to how children are being raised and what constitutes a loving and stable home. Grandparents are important to their grandchildren, but they are seldom able to replace parents.




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