Grandparent Rights in Arizona
Grandparents form an important part of extended families. In some families, grandparents are like another set of parents to children. Most grandparents care deeply for their grandchildren. If a child’s parents or guardians are failing in their duties, the grandparents might wish to step in and help.
In Arizona, grandparents can legally seek custody of grandchildren or visitation rights under the statutes A.R.S § 25-409. A grandparent must go to family court for these rights, and these petitions are carefully reviewed by a judge. The court decision will be based on what’s legally called the “best interests of the child.” Therefore, grandparents who want legal custody, visitation rights, or seek to adopt a grandchild should consult with Family Law help in Scottsdale.
How Can Grandparents Get Visitation Rights?
If a child’s parents deny the grandparents visitation rights under any circumstance, the grandparents can file a petition in court in Arizona. The court will consider the petition if the following conditions are true:
- The child’s parents were never married.
- The grandparent is the parent of a deceased or missing (for at least 3 months) parent of a child.
- The petitioning grandparent is the parent of a non-custodial parent of a child, where the child’s parents are divorced and have been for at least three months.
If the above conditions are not met, it’s unlikely the court will consider the petition. Exceptions may be granted in the case of extraordinary circumstances, such as abuse. These considerations fall under the child’s best interests category.
Eligibility of the Grandparent
Grandparents petitioning for custody are required to meet certain eligibility criteria as set by Arizona law. The requirements go as follows:
- The child’s legal parents should be deceased, in the process of getting divorced or legally separated, or were never married
- For the grandparent to get custody of a child, then remaining in the parent’s custody must be detrimental to the child’s well-being.
- The grandparent must be able to be “in loco parentis” to the child, meaning that the grandparents will provide the same care and support as a parent.
- The custody of the child should not have been decided in the previous year (exceptions are granted in cases where the child could be harmed).
If the above eligibility requirements are not met, then the petition will be dismissed.
How Does an Arizonian Court Determine the ‘Best Interests of the Child’?
Under Arizona law, a court must consider “all relevant factors” when determining the best interests of the child. In family law, there are actually five statutory factors that courts always consider when approving a petition. Here are those factors as follows:
- The relationship the grandparent has with the child in historical terms
- The reason that the grandparent is petitioning for visitation rights
- Why the parents may have denied the grandparent visitation rights
- The impact of visitation on the child’s life or activities if the court grants the grandparent visitation rights, depending on the amount of visitation the petitioner seeks
- If a parent, or both, are deceased, the benefit grandparent’s visitation will have on other extended members of the family
When Can Grandparents Petition for Visitation Rights
Grandparents can go to the family court directly for visitation rights. If the parents are getting a divorce or are in the middle of a custody battle, then a grandparent can sometimes file the petition as part of the divorce or custody proceedings. Consult with a lawyer for more specifics on when to file.
Grandparents can also formally adopt a child, but these types of petitions are subject to a different set of laws. Your family lawyer will be able to assist you in explaining these laws.
Grandparent Rights in Arizona
Grandparents form an important part of extended families. In some families, grandparents are like another set of parents to children. Most grandparents care deeply for their grandchildren. If a child’s parents or guardians are failing in their duties, the grandparents might wish to step in and help.
In Arizona, grandparents can legally seek custody of grandchildren or visitation rights under the statutes A.R.S § 25-409. A grandparent must go to family court for these rights, and these petitions are carefully reviewed by a judge. The court decision will be based on what’s legally called the “best interests of the child.” Therefore, grandparents who want legal custody, visitation rights, or seek to adopt a grandchild should consult with Family Law help in Scottsdale.
How Can Grandparents Get Visitation Rights?
If a child’s parents deny the grandparents visitation rights under any circumstance, the grandparents can file a petition in court in Arizona. The court will consider the petition if the following conditions are true:
- The child’s parents were never married.
- The grandparent is the parent of a deceased or missing (for at least 3 months) parent of a child.
- The petitioning grandparent is the parent of a non-custodial parent of a child, where the child’s parents are divorced, and have been for at least three months.
If the above conditions are not met, it’s unlikely the court will consider the petition. Exceptions may be granted in the case of extraordinary circumstances, such as abuse. These considerations fall under the child’s best interests category.
Eligibility of the Grandparent
Grandparents petitioning for custody are required to meet certain eligibility criteria as set by Arizona law. The requirements go as follows:
- The child’s legal parents should be deceased, in the process of getting divorced or legally separated, or were never married
- For the grandparent to get custody of a child, then remaining in the parent’s custody must be detrimental to the child’s well-being.
- The grandparent must be able to be “in loco parentis” to the child, meaning that the grandparents will provide the same care and support as a parent.
- The custody of the child should not have been decided in the previous year (exceptions are granted in cases where the child could be harmed).
If the above eligibility requirements are not met, then the petition will be dismissed.
How Does an Arizonian Court Determine the ‘Best Interests of the Child’?
Under Arizona law, a court must consider “all relevant factors” when determining the best interests of the child. In family law, there are actually five statutory factors that courts always consider when approving a petition. Here are those factors as follows:
- The relationship the grandparent has with the child in historical terms
- The reason that the grandparent is petitioning for visitation rights
- Why the parents may have denied the grandparent visitation rights
- The impact of visitation on the child’s life or activities if the court grants the grandparent visitation rights, depending on the amount of visitation the petitioner seeks
- If a parent, or both, are deceased, the benefit grandparent’s visitation will have on other extended members of the family
When Can Grandparents Petition for Visitation Rights
Grandparents can go to the family court directly for visitation rights. If the parents are getting a divorce or are in the middle of a custody battle, then a grandparent can sometimes file the petition as part of the divorce or custody proceedings. Consult with a lawyer for more specifics on when to file.
Grandparents can also formally adopt a child, but these types of petitions are subject to a different set of laws. Your family lawyer will be able to assist you in explaining these laws.