Grandparents' Rights

Colorado Grandparents' Rights Attorney

Promoting Your Rights in Visitation or Legal Custody

Under Colorado divorce laws, grandparents have certain rights to see their grandchildren when the grandchild's parents separate. If you are being denied access to a grandchild, contact the Law Offices of Fred Andrew Dunsing today to discuss your legal rights.

I practice exclusively in Colorado divorce and family law. As a solo practice lawyer, I meet with clients myself and personally handle all aspects of the case. I offer a free consultation at my Denver or Vail Valley offices.

Visitation Rights for Grandparents

After a bitter divorce or break-up, the custodial parent sometimes cuts the grandparents out of the picture. However, the state of Colorado recognizes a legal right of a grandparent to retain reasonable contact with the grandchild. Parents cannot interfere with this right. Ideally, grandparent access is stipulated in the parenting plan in the divorce agreement. However, grandparents can bring an action in family court if this is not the case.

Courts also recognize grandparents' rights to visitation if their child (the father or mother of a grandchild) dies. Unfortunately, if grandparents have a quarrel with parents who are still together, they do not have standing to bring an action for contact.

"Reasonable contact" means periodic visitation. The court may stipulate how often grandparents have access to the child, or may leave it to the parent and grandparents to work out an arrangement.

Custody Rights for Grandparents

Grandparents can petition for custody to become the primary caretaker of a grandchild under certain circumstances. The child must have lived with the grandparents for six months, or have been placed in the care of someone other than the parents. Courts will consider the best interests of the child and the previous relationship of the grandparents and grandchildren.

Contact an experienced Colorado grandparents' rights attorney if you are being denied your rightful visitation rights, or if you are seeking legal custody of a grandchild. I offer a free consultation, including evening and weekend appointments.

 Law Offices of Fred Andrew Dunsing
Colorado Family Law Attorney

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Our family law practice serves clients in Metro Denver, Vail Valley and the Front Range of Colorado, including Avon, Littleton, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Lakewood, Castle Rock, Aurora, Thornton, Broomfield, Westminster, Highlands Ranch, Arvada, and Golden, and throughout Denver, Douglas, Arapahoe, Jefferson, Eagle, Adams, and Broomfield counties.