Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

Question:

We are grandparents who helped raise our granddaughter for many years before it was revealed that our son was not her biological father.

We have now been shut out of our granddaughter's life because her family says since we are not the biological grandparents we can no longer see her.

Is there any legal recourse we have to see our granddaughter who we helped raise?

By Molly Murphy

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell

In recent years, the issue of whether a grandparent has the right to visitation with a grandchild has become more prevalent. Sadly, when parents decide to get divorced the parents of the non-custodial parent often end up cut off from their grandchildren.

Question:

My son has two children with his ex-girlfriend, and they have been separated for more than 3 years. My son technically has joint custody of the kids, but he never sees them. His ex-girlfriend bars me from seeing my grandkids when I visit the city they live in; I travel there every year to see my family who also lives in the area. She has told the kids that I’m dead and that’s why they don’t see me. Is there anything I can do legally about this? Do grandparents have any rights to see their grandchildren following a divorce?
 

Question:

My son and his wife signed a custody agreement that gives him joint custody and visitation for two weeknights a week with their 7-month-old baby until the child is 3 years old. He doesn’t get weekends or holidays, and it seems like he won’t fight it because he’s interested in getting her back so he does whatever she says.

How can I at least get visitation and time with my grandchild? What are my rights as a grandparent? I just want to be able to take her for ice cream on a summer Saturday afternoon.