Oftentimes grandparents find themselves taking care of their grandchildren for a variety of reasons. Whether the parents are no longer able, willing, suitable or present, a grandparent may step in and takeover the custody and care of their biological grandchildren. In a way to encourage this environmental shift and promote the best living arrangement possible for children, the courts in Kansas allow grandparents to maintain custody of their grandchildren based on certain factors. Many times there are also assistance programs available to financially support and ease stress on grandparents. If you are a grandparent who wishes to continue raising your grandchild, or you are considering taking your grandchild into your home and would like to discuss your options, Attorney Tom McDowell has over 40 years of experience and looks forward to helping you care for your grandchild.
Financial Support for Raising Your Grandchild
As a blood relative of the child you can apply to receive a variety of different forms of assistance through the state. The state understands that bringing an additional person into your home, despite being a child, can be costly and they wish to encourage better living conditions for the child and feasibility for grandparents. Knowing children need food and clothing, school supplies and possibly medication, the state understands these expenses add up and may offer financial support to grandparents based on these needs. Ask Attorney Tom McDowell what state programs you may be eligible for, along with insurance assistance and medical cards through Medicaid. Depending on your employment and your insurance provider, you most likely will be able to claim the child under your insurance and have the child covered at no additional cost. In order to establish these sorts of benefits and rights however, you may be required to establish certain legal rights, which are covered in the next paragraph or you can discuss them with a Kansas Attorney such as Tom McDowell.
How Grandparents Can Establish Legal Rights of Grandchildren
As previously discussed, you may have rights as a grandparent but they are not automatic and need to be legally established. There are a variety of ways to establish certain legal rights over your grandchild(ren) so it is best to review your options and educate yourself accordingly. A Power of Attorney is an option that gives grandparents the ability to make certain decisions on behalf of the child with their parents’ voluntarily delegation. A more permanent option would be to establish custody or guardianship of your grandchild through the court system with or without the parents’ consent depending on the level of need and details of the circumstances. Many of these options can be temporary, for a specified period of time or last until the child’s 18th (eighteenth) birthday.
Contact Qualified Kansas Attorney Tom McDowell Today to Discuss Your Rights as a Grandparent
If you are considering adopting, establishing guardianship or custody of your grandchild, you have a variety of options and our law firm is here to assist you. With over 40 years of experience, Kansas Adoption Attorney Tom McDowell has helped many grandparents give their grandchildren the care they need. Call McDowell Chartered Legal Services today at (316) 633-4322 to see how we can successfully assist you in establishing your legal rights as a grandparent.