Grandparent Rights FAQ | Texas Family Law Powerhouse

Question 1

Can grandparents get visitation rights if parents object?

Accepted Answer

This question has been addressed in 2 Texas court opinion(s), including In the matter of J.C., a juvenile. Appealing a juvenile delinquency verdict is significantly harder than appealing a standard family law order because courts will not re-weigh the evidence. Because these cases follow criminal appellate standards, you cannot win by simply arguing the jury made the wrong choice between conflicting stories; you must prove that there was legally 'no evidence' to support the conviction.

Question 2

Can grandparents get visitation rights in Texas if they have a close bond with their grandchild?

Accepted Answer

This question has been addressed in 1 Texas court opinion(s), including In re J. T. J.. A close familial bond is not enough to grant grandparents legal standing in Texas; they must provide specific facts showing that a lack of access will cause documented physical or clinical emotional harm to the child.

Question 3

What are the requirements for grandparents to get custody or visitation rights in Texas?

Accepted Answer

This question has been addressed in 3 Texas court opinion(s), including In the Interest of A.J., A Child. Winning an evidentiary objection to a document is not enough if you allow witnesses to testify about that document's contents without further objection. To avoid the 'cumulative evidence' trap, practitioners must secure a running objection to ensure that similar testimony doesn't waive the initial error on appeal.