What can I do to help my friend's family?

Question

Three years ago, my childhood best friend was killed in Washington by his wife after an arguement because he wanted to bring his son to meet his family here in NJ for the first time that Christmas. She claims she shot him because he beat her, yet no abrasions, cuts, or bruises were EVER ONCE found on her body. Over these past three years, I know his son has been in his family's hearts and prayers as well as my own. Custody of the child has gone to his wife's mother who will not allow the child to meet the family who loves him so much, and my friends mother is left unable to hold the only piece of her son left in this world. Recently my friend's father passed away, and I have felt sad for the family as the past three years have been anything but kind to them. His father's bout with terminal illness has left the family in a financial rutt, and they can not afford legal council to fight for the right to finally see my friends son outside of pictures. Is there anything I can do?

Answer 1

Do you goes have a legal aid in your state. maybe try seeing a lawyer for a free consultation, they might be able to point you in the right direction, and maybe offer a payment plan. Good look to your friends family, i will say a pray for you all.

Answer 2

~~the following situations may give rise to grandparent visitation:
Pending divorce
Parents already divorced
Parent deceased
Child born out of wedlock


In recent years, the issue of Grandparent's rights to visitation in divorce has come to the forefront. Sadly, what will often happen in divorce are the parents of the non-custodial parent end up cut off from their grandchildren. This may be especially true if the grandparents and grandchildren live a far distance from each other.

Grandparent's rights have become a controversial issue. On the one hand why should grandchildren be denied time with a grandparent because their parents no longer live together or are getting a divorce? Conversely, at what point does the intervention of the courts infringe upon a person's civil liberties?

People going through a divorce often feel that they have little or no control over their lives anymore. It seems the court system takes over their life, telling them how to live, where to live, how much money to live on and on.

VISITATION

Exactly what is visitation? To put it into its simplest form, visitation is when the court sets a specific schedule for a person to have access to the child. In other words in the case of grandparent's visitation the court will order that the children be made available to the grandparent on specific day for a specified amount of time.

Unfortunately, just because a grandparent is being denied access to their grandchild does not necessarily mean they will qualify for court ordered visitation. Grandparent visitation is governed by statute and case law, and each state has their own laws.

During a divorce, communications between all the parties often breaks down. Every effort within reason should be made to have time with the grandchild before court papers are filed. Mediation is one option available before filing papers. Filing in the courts for visitation should be the last resort.

The requirements for court ordered visitation vary by state. In most, but not all states, if the grandchild's parents are still married the grandparents are not entitled to visitation. Depending upon the state, the following situations may give rise to grandparent visitation:
Pending divorce
Parents already divorced
Parent deceased
Child born out of wedlock
As you can see, this is a complicated issue. If you are a grandparent that is being denied time, without good reason, you have a big decision to make. Once the decision to pursue visitation the next step is to find a professional that specializes in third party custody and visitation.

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The following attorneys handle Grandparents Rights to Visitation cases.
Please mention DivorceHQ.com when contacting them

NEW JERSEY


Michael Grodjeski, Esq. APM.
Center For Mediation Solutions
Metuchen, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: njcentermediation.com
Frank E. Tournour, Esq., P.C.
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: divorceheadquarters/tournour.html
David F. Salvaggio, Esq.
Salvaggio Garibian LLC
Morristown, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.nj-divorce.net
Faith A. Ullmann
Gruber, Colabella, Liuzza, Kutyla & Ullmann
Newton, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.gruberlaw.biz
Curtis J. Romanowski, Esq.
Romanowski Law Offices
Metuchen, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.divorcenewjersey.com
Patricia A. Dulinski, Esq.
Westfield, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]

Cara M. Corbo, Esq.
Miller, Meyerson, Schwartz & Corbo, Esqs.
Jersey City, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.mmsclawfirm.com
Philip S. Burnham, II, Esquire
Burnham & Wiesner, LLC
Cherry Hill, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.burnhamwiesner.com
Frank J. LaRocca, Esq.
LaRocca & Associates, PC
Glen Rock, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.divorcelawnj.com
Anju D. Jessani, MBA, APM
Divorce with Dignity Mediation Services
Hoboken, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: dwdmediation.org
Jeffrey R. Brown, Esq., LLC
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: jeffreyrbrown.com
Eric S. Solotoff, Esq.
Donahue, Hagan, Klein, Newsome & O'Donnell, P.C.
Morristown, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.solotofffamilylaw.com
The Law Offices of Richard Obuch
Elizabeth, NJ
[phone] Email: [e-mail]

Answer 3

There is nothing that you can do directly. The grandparents have every right to petition for visitiation as long as they are truly the paternal grandparents. Probably the best thing to do would be for the paternal grandparents to petition for custody of the minor child with a solid basis behind it - like the maternal grandmother is not a fit and proper person, etc. - and in that petition an attorney can do an "in the alternative" clause where if custody is not awarded, fair and reasonable vistiation would be requested.

Good luck to you and your friends family. It is always terribly sad when a child is used as a pawn in an adults game.

Answer 4

Pray on it. It make take some time but we live on GOD's
Clock not ours....The Lord will answer your prayers, however
you may not like the answer. I am sorry for the suffering
sometimes people need to make others hurt because they
are in so much pain themselves....when all else fails, there is always our Heavenly Father. I have been touched many times
with miracles in my life, but it is always when I least expected it.