What to do when grandchildren are being neglected?

You can petition for custody. You must file a petition in Juvenile Court, alleging that your grandchild’s parents are abusing or neglecting your grandchild, that your grandchild is in harm’s way immediately, and that you are prepared to raise them for the foreseeable future.

What is coercive control of a child?

Coercive parenting is using harsh parental behavior such as hitting, yelling, scolding, threatening, rejection and psychological control to enforce compliance of the child. They are intrusive, over-controlling and assert higher power over the child. The coercion is usually arbitrary, peremptory, and domineering​1​.

How can you prove coercion?

Evidence used to prove coercive control include, but are not limited to: copies of emails, phone records, text messages, abuse on social media platforms, a diary kept by the victim, evidence showing the victim was isolated from family and friends, evidence showing the perpetrator accompanied the victim to medical …

What is coercive discipline?

The coercive process occurs when a parent makes a disciplinary attempt but then gives up on that agendum in the face of child misbehavior, thereby negatively reinforcing that misbehavior (Patterson, 2002).

Can a court deny a parent grandparent visitation?

A court must consider a parent’s wishes and reasons for preventing grandparent visitation when deciding whether visits are appropriate. Parents’ feelings toward grandparents matter, and a court may deny grandparent visitation if it creates an undue amount of strife.

Can a grandparent get custody if the other parent is abusive?

However, one parent’s abuse or neglect of a child isn’t usually enough for a grandparent to get custody. The other parent’s rights will come into play before a grandparent’s.

What should a grandparent look for in a visitation order?

Grandparents should check a number of provisions in the statutes in their respective states to determine the conditions for visitation, the factors a court must consider to order visitation, and the proper venue to file a request for visitation. Though many state statutes are similar, state courts may apply statutory provisions differently.

Can grandparents be denied contact with their grandchildren in Massachusetts?

If grandparents are being denied contact with their grandchildren, they can file a petition in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court so long as the parents have divorced or separated, or a parent has died. If the parents were unmarried, the petition can be filed if the parent or adult child of the grandparents has established paternity.