What is the process for a grandparent to seek visitation rights in court?

In Washington, a grandparent seeking visitation rights through the court system can file a Petition for Visitation Rights in the court in the county where the grandchild resides. The petition should include information such as the names and addresses of both the grandparent and grandchild, a statement of the grandparent’s relationship to the grandchild, and the amount of contact the grandparent has had with the grandchild in the past. The court will then set a hearing date and issue an order to the person with custody of the grandchild and the non-custodial parent, informing them of the grandparent’s request for visitation rights. Both parties may be required to attend the hearing, as the court will consider their input when making a decision. The court may order for the grandparent to receive supervised visitation or visitation at specific times. If the court finds that visitation is in the grandchild’s best interest, a visitation order will be issued. Grandparents should keep in mind that they may be required to pay filing and court fees, as well as attorney’s fees if they choose to hire a lawyer to represent them in court. It is important for the grandparent to be well-prepared for the hearing, as the court may take the grandparent’s commitment to visiting the grandchild into consideration when making its decision.

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What is the process for a grandparent to seek visitation rights in court?

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