Grandparents as De Facto Parents
The Maine Law Court has ruled that even if grandparents act as parents — in essence claim that they are the de facto parents, they have no grounds to seek parental rights over the objections of the real parents absent making a prima facie case that they were de facto parents.
This is a cautionary tale for those grandparents who take over raising their grandchildren for a period of time thinking that they have more rights than they actually do under Maine law.
Read the case of Philbrook v. Theriault for more details.
If you know where your child is located, stop claiming that she is missing. Travel to her home to be with her during the holidays. Show her that you care.
Women are behind the most egregious cases of missing child fraud.
Help us put a stop to missing child fraud!
http://www.ncmec.eu
Posted by: Eliminate missing child fraud! | December 23, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Families crumble for many reasons: divorce, the death of a parent, drug and alcohol abuse etc. Understanding basic rights can help that your relationship with the grandchildren doesn't end should that with their parents. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a six-three decision on grandparents' visitation rights. Legal guardianship is a court order that says someone who is not the child's parent is in charge of taking care of the child. Legal guardians have a lot of the same rights and responsibilities as parents. They can decide where the child lives and goes to school, and they can make decisions about the child's health care.
http://www.nobsdivorceadviceguide.com/
Posted by: Adamjoselin | January 12, 2009 at 05:08 AM
This is interest and rather grim. Grandparents can get really hurt in divorce cases but I guess they have no redress in Maine law which is a shame.
Posted by: divorce lawyers london | February 03, 2009 at 10:37 AM