Grandparents' Rights

Grandparents' Rights in New Jersey

Bergen County Family Law Attorneys and Divorce Lawyers

Very few states in the U.S. give grandparents a legal right to visit with a grandchild, particularly if a custodial parent does not want the child to spend time with the grandmother or grandfather.

New Jersey law is generous in its recognition of the value of grandparents in the lives of children. Our state's Grandparents' Visitation Statute allows a grandparent to apply to the court for visitation if it can be proven that visitation is in the best interest of the child. Proving this can be a challenge, however.

At the New Jersey family law office of Aretsky & Aretsky, our attorneys understand the challenges you face when seeking to maintain a loving, close relationship with a grandchild. We can help you understand and protect your rights to grandparent-grandchild visitation.

Contact us to schedule a consultation with a family lawyer.

Factors the Court Considers in Grandparents' Visitation Rights Cases

Your attorney will work hard to help you prove to the court that your relationship with your grandchild is close and valuable for the child. The court will consider the following factors:

• Your relationship with the child and whether there has ever been a history of abuse or neglect on your part
• The frequency of contact you have had with the child and the time that has elapsed since you last had contact
• The visitation agreement that exists between the parents, if the parents are divorced or separated
• Your relationship with each of your grandchild's parents and the effect that visitation will have on the relationship between the child and parent

When grandparents bring a case to court to secure their right to visitation, it's usually because of divorce, but it needn't be. You can ask the courts to allow you grandparent visitation whether the parents are married, separated, divorced, or if one parent has died. You cannot seek visitation if the grandchild has been placed for adoption.

Contact our New Jersey Family Law Attorneys

Learn more about securing your rights to visitation with a grandchild. Contact Aretsky & Aretsky by e-mail or call 201-445-5856.