Skip to main content
Chesapeake, VA
Family Law
Your Experienced Virginia and North Carolina Lawyers with offices in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Elizabeth City.
Call Today: 888-691-9319
Get Help Now

"*" indicates required fields

Consent*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Business meeting with two professionals shaking hands at a table with documents and laptops.
Get Help Now
Experience the Difference with Our Legal Team

Virginia Grandparent Visitation Lawyer

Grandparents have the legal right to file for visitation rights, as do other close friends or relatives in the child’s life. These types of people are called persons with a legitimate interest, which is a special status under the law. However, in as much as the court’s main interest in these cases is the well-being and best interests of the child(ren), the parents are given priority.

If you are seeking grandparent visitation rights and both parents object, only one parent is living, or one parent objects and the other parent does not give an opinion; you must first prove that the child will suffer “actual harm” before the courts will even apply the factors to determine if the visitation is in the child’s best interest.

Custody and visitation disputes can become very stressful, and often, the courts’ decisions might seem unfair, but in every case, the main questions ultimately revolve around the best interest of the child. However, if you are a “person with a legitimate interest,” like a grandparent, you may have a higher burden than just proving this standard.  For this reason, it is very important to hire a Virginia grandparent visitation lawyer that is well-versed in state law and has the necessary experience with these types of cases to ensure the right evidence is presented, and arguments made, to maximize your chances of prevailing.

Protect the Relationship With Grandchildren by Calling a Virginia Grandparent Visitation Attorney

If you or a loved one needs assistance in a grandparent visitation matter, schedule a consultation today. Call a Virginia grandparent visitation lawyer to protect the special relationship you have with your grandchildren.

Businesswoman in a navy blazer smiling with arms crossed against a neutral background.

Written By Shelly F. Wood

Attorney, Partner Chesapeake Office

Shelly is a seasoned attorney with extensive experience in family and criminal law. She began her career as a Public Defender for Norfolk in 2002 before transitioning to private practice in 2004. After successfully running her own law firm for 14 years, Shelly became the Managing Partner of Parks Zeigler’s Chesapeake office in 2020. This move allowed her to expand her legal services while staying deeply connected to the Chesapeake community.