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Home / Family Law / Grandparents’ Rights
Grandparents’ Rights

Washington County Family Law Attorneys Advocate for Grandparents’ Rights

Providing experienced legal representation throughout Washington County, Dakota County, Burnsville, Stillwater and Woodbury, MN

At Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., we understand the important role grandparents play in their grandchildren’s lives. When your child’s death or divorce threatens the relationship you enjoy with your grandchildren, we can help you seek visitation time. The law in this area is undergoing rapid change, so it’s wise to choose a law firm that focuses on family law. With more than 50 years ’ combined experience, our attorneys have the knowledge and skills to help you achieve your goals.

Can a grandparent get visitation rights or custody?

Minnesota law is clear that the rights of parents outweigh those of grandparents. But there are situations in which grandparents can win visitation rights with their grandchildren and even pursue child custody as a de facto custodian or interested third party.

Minnesota law identifies a number of situations that give courts the authority to grant visitation rights to grandparents:

  • If a parent of the child is deceased, the parents of the deceased parent may be granted reasonable visitation with their grandchild if it is in the best interests of the child and would not interfere with the parent-child relationship.
  • If the parents of a child are unmarried, separated or divorced, the court may grant reasonable visitation rights to the grandparents.
  • If the child has resided with the grandparents for 12 months or more and is subsequently removed from the home by the child’s parents, a court may grant reasonable visitation rights to the grandparents.
  • If a grandchild is adopted by a stepparent via termination of parental rights of the parent who is the child of the grandparents, the grandparents may be granted reasonable visitation rights.

Can grandparent visitation be modified or terminated?

When it’s awarded, grandparent visitation is part of the child’s custody arrangement. Like any part of a custody arrangement, grandparent visitation is subject to modification if a parent or other interested party successfully petitions the court for a change in the custody order.

Any visitation rights granted to grandparents before the adoption of a child by anyone other than a stepparent are automatically terminated when the adoption is final.

Call our lawyers for answers to your questions about grandparents’ rights

At Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., we help grandparents maintain their relationships with their grandchildren. We represent families and individuals throughout Minnesota, including in Washington County, Dakota County, Burnsville, Eagan and Woodbury, MN. There is no charge for initial consultations, and flexible scheduling is available. Call us today at 651-760-7524 or contact us online to arrange an appointment.

Our Attorneys
Client testimonials

  • "Tori had a thorough understanding of my situation and made excellent recommendations to resolve my concerns. She was persistent on communication and handled everything in a very timely manner. I would definitely hire her again in the future if needed." - M.K.

  • "With Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., it is like having a family physician. They are all knowledgeable, thorough, comforting, and the only call I need to make for all my legal needs for many years to come. No matter what the matter, I totally trust their advice and commitment to me and my family." - J.N.

  • "Mary from APH Law helped me thru a difficult divorce. She and the entire staff was there for me every step of the way helping me on what to do next. They listened to what I wanted and helped me achieve what matter the most to me in the divorce settlement." - Dana C.

  • "I chose APH after my initial consultation with Mary. I felt my best interest would be represented. The entire process went excellent, the attorneys and staff communicated effectively and efficiently with me throughout the process as they needed to. Being new to the legal process and verbiage, they walked me and talked me through the next steps and the jargon, I felt completely comfortable and represented. I hope I never have to use legal services again but if I do I will call Mary at APH Law and know that I will be taken care of." - Jeff M.

  • "Divorce is a time of emotion and stress. Mary Pfeifer , My lawyer was professional and compassionate. She was very informative through the process. Her insight helped me in my decisions. She worked hard to obtain a settlement which was fair to both parties. Though, I hope I won't need her help again. It is reassuring to know a good person that is willing to help." - Rod S.

  • "I first came to Ms. Jacquelyn Lutz of Appelhof, Pfeifer and Hart in October of 2016. It was definitely the worst time in my life and she compassionately spoke with me about my options. Ms. Lutz thoroughly explained the laws, statutes, process and what to expect going forward. What was supposed to be one case, turned into three intricate cases that took a huge toll on me and my family. Ms. Lutz represented me in court on all three cases with a vast knowledge of the laws and how to proceed accordingly. During all three cases she kept me informed, calm, gave me resources to utilize, and (most important) gave me a realistic view of what may come next. Ms. Lutz knew each case required a great deal of knowledge and creative thinking on how to legally proceed forward with each case. My family and friends are forever grateful for the amazing representation by Ms. Lutz. I highly recommend Ms. Lutz for anyone needing or considering superb representation for any kind of family law. " - M.H.

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