Vermont grandparents’ legal rights, guidelines, regulations, and rules of law allow you to ask for visitation, and temporary custody of your grandchildren. VT grandparents can also file for full custody, guardianship, or adoption, to raise their grand-kids, through a VT family law custody court judicial process. The proper legal advice, guidance, and strategies are key to ensure a successful outcome to any predicament regarding your grandchildren. Fortunately, studies have shown that the “Best Interests” for your grandchildren is that they have an active relationship with their grandparents. Grandfathers and grandmothers can often provide a healthier and more stable environment than the children’s biological parents. As a result, Vermont’s “Best Interest of the Child” guideline fully supports a grandparents’ rights for visitation and custody. The legal extent to which you can visit, provide, and support your grandchildren will need to be determined and approved through a VT family law court hearing litigation process.
Children are all too often kept from their grandparents, or exposed to abuse and neglect. Typically, most if not all of these circumstances are completely out of their control. This unhealthy environment is a damaging situation for children’s emotional and physical well-being. Children often don’t have a voice to be heard, and it is our responsibility as grandparents to be that voice. A voice that defends, supports, protects, and cares for all grandchildren that so desperately need our help.
The Vermont Judicial Legal System Recognizes the Importance of Grandparents’ Rights Regarding Visitation and Custody of Grandchildren; and Fully Understands That Abuse and Neglect are Prevalent in VT Families.
VT family law fully acknowledges the ability for grandparents to provide a positive and stable environment. An environment, which is able to provide leadership, and a parenting platform so many children desperately need. Grandchildren even spending limited time with their grandparents can help provide the much-needed comfort and security that children require on a regular basis.
The situation grandchildren are exposed to varies greatly. Some are in a positive stable environment, and grandparents are simply denied access or may be allowed very limited contact with their grandchildren. The other end of the spectrum is a situation that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If you can prove your grandchildren are being subjected to an abusive and neglectful environment, the Vermont judicial system will act quickly and forcefully on your behalf. Don’t think for one second that as grandparents your rights will be restricted or limited. Remember, the “Best Interest of the Children” is a standard that is fully recognized and supported in the state of Vermont.
If your grandchildren are in an abusive or neglected environment you may file a petition for a VT child protective proceeding. If abuse, neglect, or imminent danger exist, child protective services may enforce an emergency removal of the children and place them into protective custody. A child protective proceeding is typically followed by a number of court hearings. A fact-finding court hearing is set to determine if the allegations are true. A dis-positional hearing is set to decide what should be done if the child has been neglected or abused. Finally, a permanency hearing is set to determine and finalize the permanent placement and security of the children.
It’s important to recognize, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) was established to ensure that any child custody litigation occurs in the child’s “home state”. The “home state” is defined as the last state where a child has lived for 6 consecutive months with a parent. This act was adopted to discourage parents from moving out-of-state in an attempt to manipulate the judicial system for whatever reason. Parental attempted kidnapping by moving children to another state or jurisdiction was one of the main reasons the UCCJEA was adopted.
Vermont Grandparents’ Legal Rights, Guidelines, Regulations, and Rules of Law Enable You to Defend Your Visitation Rights, Fight for Custody, or the “Best Interests” of Your Grandchildren Through VT Family Law.
The modification to your grandchild’s custody situation may be modified in Vermont on your behalf. In some cases it will be a temporary modification based on a continuing effort of both parents to SUCCESSFULLY overcome the obstacles that prevent them from retaining full custody again. Parents inability to provide a safe, stable, humane, and secure home environment can be due to many different factors, including but not limited to: (substance abuse, incarceration, mental health issues, anger management, poor leadership skill sets, endangerment, physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, divorce, etc.). In other cases you may be awarded full custody. Often times, full custody comes with the option to legally adopt your grandchildren.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that you have no legal rights in the state of Vermont when it comes to your grandchildren. VT family law will help ensure your grand-kids get what they deserve and need. Remember to focus your efforts on their “Best Interests” at all times. Your grandchildren will thank you when they are mature enough to realize the decisions and sacrifices you made for them and their future.
I cannot stress enough, the fact that grandchildren need their grandparents. For some grand-kids seeing their grandparents on a regular basis is the best option. Others need to be removed from a physically and emotionally damaging environment permanently. Grandparents are often the first and best option for children to find the stable and secure environment they desperately need and deserve. Check out the links below to help secure visitation with your grandchildren, or fight for the rights of someone who is unable to defend themselves.
- Click Here 😎 for a State-Specific GRANDPARENTS’ RIGHTS MANUAL, and a GRANDPARENTS GOING TO CUSTODY COURT TO ASSERT THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS MANUAL. Both Contain State-Specific Laws, Regulations, Guidelines, and Strategies for Vermont (VT), and all Fifty States. All the Necessary Legal Forms and Paperwork are Included to Provide the Tools You Need to Secure Visitation, and an Appropriate Environment for Your Grandchildren.
- Click Here 😎 if You or Someone You Know Wishes to Create Their Own Professional Quality Visitation Schedule, Visitation Calendar, Parenting Plan Agreement, Expense Reports, and MUCH MORE. This Allows You to Track Actual Visitation Time and Expenses, Prepare for any Negotiation or Court Appearance, Save $$$… on Attorney Fees, Spend Less Time in Court, and More Time with Your Grandchildren or Children.
The time to act is now, because all children deserve the best that our society has to offer. As a Vermont grandparent you have rights. These rights enable you to request visitation, and also allow you to be a voice for someone who may desperately need your help and support. Life can come with many challenges, but if you believe that everything happens for a reason then life’s challenges will suddenly become an obstacle with a manageable solution. Don’t forget, Vermont grandparents’ legal rights, regulations, guidelines, and rules of law, regarding grandchild visitation and custody, were also legislated for guidance, advice, and strategies to support the “Best Interests of the Children” standard through VT family law.
cwdv | Comments2
My daughter has a 3 yr old and a 2 month old son, she was on Xanax and Methadone for over 13 years. When the 2 month old was born she admitted to the Dr that she had abused her Xanax during pregnancy and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) quickly got involved. I’ve literally supported and been in the 3-year-old’s life since the day he was born. I even sat for 7 weeks at daycare as he cried and I wouldn’t leave him to cry. Since my daughter has come off the Xanax she has literally changed 100% FOR THE WORST!!! SHE IS MEAN, and having bad images all the time in her head. I’ve seen her snapping at the 3 yr old whom was once her WORLD and I’ve witnessed physical things. She suddenly began using me as a form of punishment and my grandson has made it very clear that he wants to live with me and does not want to be with mother because they are homeless. He has been asking, where is my home? I cry for these babies all the time. My daughter is in danger mentally and I am at unable to help her. She has a boyfriend, who she will admit smokes crack, but feels its okay because he does not do it in front of the children. She has no understanding of why this is upsetting.
My husband and I have adopted his oldest 2 grandchildren. The two youngest children had a different birth mother. The children were all very close and had to be skilled to survive. They lived all their years alive in trauma. The children were all scared to be separated. Vermont’s Department for Children and Families (DCF) had removed the 4 children with the younger 2 being placed with the mother’s family. My family all thought that we would always see the younger two children. At first, Amanda, (the adoptive mother of the youngest grandchildren)and myself were friends. Even so close to be called family. Her other children, as well as our grandchildren, all called me Nana, and Doug, the paternal Grandfather, was known as Papa.
Conflicts began when DCF called Amanda out and told her she must obey the plan which is to get the children together as much as possible. I have tried and tried to contact Amanda to discuss the problem; I had no idea what it was! The adopted children have now been separated. We have not been able to communicate with the children nor have their siblings been able to see them. I feel this is a very special case in which the children are at my interest and have been since Amanda stopped allowing them to come. She has said in the past, we need to go to her house. The boys do not wish to go to this house ever. There were feces on the walls in the bathroom and never cleaned. So, I replied that it will not be in the best interest of these children. They truly need each other. They need to be in an environment without their new brothers and sister. The family is very loud and my little one has big issues with loud voices. Interruptions that never end, are not in the best interest of all the children. Not only my husband and I, but the boys have a whole in their heart that will never mend, UNDERSTANDABLY. I do believe and hope, as with Grandparent rights, that someone would hear our story and create Sibling rights. I would like to be advised with my issue stated above. Do we have a chance to fight for grandparent rights? This is an easy resolve to the conflict with the other family.
Thank you for your time.
Jeanette Elmore
16 Melrose Avenue
Rutland, VT 05701
802.236.6466