Grandparents are often the bedrock of the family unit and can be a stabilizing force in turbulent times. If you are a grandparent that has taken over the traditional roles of a parent for your grandchildren you may want to know what your rights are concerning the children.
In Texas grandparents must meet initial requirements before they can initiate a case regarding their grandchildren. These initial requirements can be met if the children in question have resided with the grandparents for at least six months, or if the children’s present circumstances would significantly impair the child’s physical health or emotional development.
Once this threshold is met the court can then consider whether it is in the children’s “best interest” for the grandparents to have conservatorship, or possession and access to the children. Due to the additional requirements regarding cases initiated by grandparents it is critical to have reliable legal representation throughout any one of these cases.