Multi-State Divorce & Family Law Blog by Stange Law Firm, PC

Gone are the days when it was simply expected that children would be raised in traditional nuclear families. In today’s world it is quite common for children to not only be raised in single parent households, but also by their grandparents. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau a staggering 2.7 million grandparents had grandchildren living with them under the age of 18 in 2010. But, even in instances in which grandparents are the primary caregivers to grandchildren, they often have limited rights to custody and visitation in many states. Similarly, grandparents routinely have to deal with limited access

Over the past decade, the number of grandparents raising their grandchildren on a full-time basis has increased dramatically. However, taking responsibility for a grandchild’s care does not necessarily mean that grandparents are recognized as legal guardians. In some cases, after caring for a grandchild, a parent may bar contact; however, under Missouri law grandparent visitation rights are usually available. The 2010 Census found that six million children in the United States live in homes where a grandparent is the head of household. This was twice the number reported in 2000. These six million children represent approximately eight percent of all

Cheryl Ann Walker, the late Paul Walker’s mother, filed a legal petition on Tuesday, March 18, to be appointed guardian of her 15-year-old granddaughter, Meadow Walker, and also to administer the $16 million-plus estate that Meadow inherited from her father. Paul Walker, an actor of “Fast and Furious” fame, was killed in an accident last November and left his entire estate to his teen daughter, Meadow. Meadow lived with her mother, Rebecca Soteros-who was Paul’s ex-girlfriend, in Hawaii, while Paul lived in L.A. for much of the girl’s childhood. However, the last few years and until his death in November,

Getting visitation as a nonparent is possible if in the child’s best interest and under the right circumstances. Illinois law gives certain people the right to petition the court for visitation of a child that is not theirs. The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized the constitutional right of parents to control and care for their children, so when a parent objects to their child spending time with someone (other than the other parent), that objection is difficult to overcome. For this reason, states have had to enact carefully crafted nonparent visitation laws that protect parental rights, while still acknowledging that

Knowing what rights they have can help grandparents obtain rights for visitation with their grandkids. Those living in Missouri who have grandchildren most likely love the little ones and want to visit with them frequently. Typically, this is not an issue, as parents and grandparents can arrange times for the grandchildren to visit with their elder relatives. However, the fact remains that there are no natural visitation rights available to grandparents. It requires a court order. Therefore, if grandparents want to make sure they have a right to see their grandkids, they must know the steps involved in pursuing the