Child Custody & Visitation Attorney for Grandparents and Relatives

All too often a parent is unable to provide a safe and stable home for a child. Whether the parent’s problem relates to alcohol or drug abuse, criminal activity, mental illness, or disability, grandparents and relatives of the child might want to intervene on the child’s behalf. If you are a grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or another adult relative of a child who might need your continuing care, contact the experienced custody lawyers at Arthur & Kirkman for dependable advice and representation about your rights and options.

In North Carolina, relatives and grandparent’s rights to custody of a child are conditioned upon certain circumstances. If the child’s parents are unfit to parent the child, have abused the child, have neglected the welfare of the child, have abandoned the child, or otherwise acted inconsistent with the rights and responsibilities of a parent, then relatives and grandparents have the right to bring the parent’s conduct to the court’s attention and request that the court award custody of the child to the relative and/or grandparents. There is a multitude of conduct and circumstances by parents which would qualify as having been inconsistent with the rights and responsibilities the law expects of parents. Examples of such conduct include drug addiction and/or abuse, alcohol abuse, arrest or conviction of a crime, commission of acts of violence, being involved with a physically abusive partner, failing to maintain adequate housing for the child, and failing to provide for the child’s necessary needs among others.

Relative and Grandparent custody cases are often challenging, and relatives and grandparents who wish to seek custody of a child should consult with a lawyer who is familiar with what is known in the legal community as “third-party custody cases.” A lawyer can help grandparents and relatives fully consider their chances for success and how to improve those chances. The custody lawyers at Arthur & Kirkmanhave handled and tried a multitude of third-party custody cases involving grandparents and relatives. It is important to have an experienced attorney on your side, contact the lawyers at Arthur & Kirkman today to ensure availability.