Grandparents' Rights and the Rights of Others
Grandparents' Rights in Texas
At the Law Office of Tim Whitten, we provide personalized, experienced, honest service for families from all backgrounds throughout the Austin, Texas, metro region. Attorney Whitten has been certified as a Family Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
To schedule an appointment to discuss your rights, call 512.782.2289 or contact us online today.
Fathers' Rights in Texas
In theory, fathers have the same legal rights as mothers. In practice, a variety of social and biological factors often prevent fathers from being recognized as legitimate parents. At the Law Office of Tim Whitten, we believe you are more than a child support check.
Fathers' rights include, but are not limited to:
- The right to have access to the children
- The right to make decisions about the children's upbringing, like education, religion and healthcare
- The right to file a protest if the mother tries to move far away with the children.
No father has rights, however, without first establishing legal paternity of the child. Establishing paternity means you have rights as well as the responsibility to pay child support.
Grandparents' Rights in Texas
In Texas, being a grandparent doesn't automatically give you any special rights regarding your grandchild. If you believe that the child's parents are behaving dangerously or are unfit to guard the children, you can file a complaint with Child Protective Services (CPS) to have them removed from the parents' home. Since CPS usually looks to extended family members as alternatives to foster care placement, grandparents are often attractive candidates to take care of the children.
In addition, if you have spent a substantial amount of time raising your grandchild while the parents were absent, you may be named a "de facto" parent. This would give you certain rights and would help open the door to options like conservatorship and adoption.
To schedule an appointment with a lawyer at the Law Office of Tim Whitten, call us today at 512.782.2289 or contact us online.
