Attorney Carla Risoldi has practiced family law for more than 25 years. Carla Risoldi provides parent coordination services and represents parents and eligible grandparents in child custody cases.
In 2018, Pennsylvania passed Act 21, which redefined the custody and visitation rights of grandparents in certain situations. The law upholds existing restrictions on grandparents seeking any type of custody. Grandparents may file for supervised or partial custody only if their child has died or separated from their spouse.
An exception is if the grandchildren have lived with their grandparents for at least a year. In this case, grandparents who are denied visitation may file for custody arrangements even if the child’s parents are still married.
Act 21 did add an extra stipulation. Grandparents seeking custody rights because of their child’s divorce must demonstrate an existing relationship with the grandchild. As in all custody hearings, the court considers the best interests of the children.
The 2018 amendments were in response to parents-rights concerns that parents should have the primary say in how their children are raised, however, it attempts to balance this with the best interests of the children also being served by maintaining relationships with grandparents.
If you are involved in a grandparent custody dispute, you should have the benefit of experienced legal counsel. Carla Risoldi can be reached at 215-741-3700 or at buckscountydivorcelawyer.US.
In 2018, Pennsylvania passed Act 21, which redefined the custody and visitation rights of grandparents in certain situations. The law upholds existing restrictions on grandparents seeking any type of custody. Grandparents may file for supervised or partial custody only if their child has died or separated from their spouse.
An exception is if the grandchildren have lived with their grandparents for at least a year. In this case, grandparents who are denied visitation may file for custody arrangements even if the child’s parents are still married.
Act 21 did add an extra stipulation. Grandparents seeking custody rights because of their child’s divorce must demonstrate an existing relationship with the grandchild. As in all custody hearings, the court considers the best interests of the children.
The 2018 amendments were in response to parents-rights concerns that parents should have the primary say in how their children are raised, however, it attempts to balance this with the best interests of the children also being served by maintaining relationships with grandparents.
If you are involved in a grandparent custody dispute, you should have the benefit of experienced legal counsel. Carla Risoldi can be reached at 215-741-3700 or at buckscountydivorcelawyer.US.
