Are grandparents allowed to seek legal representation for their grandchild in court?

In South Carolina, grandparents may seek legal representation for their grandchild in court in two different ways; both are written into the law. First, a grandparent may be appointed by the court to act as a guardian ad litem (GAL) for the grandchild. This means the grandparent is allowed to legally represent the best interests of the grandchild within court proceedings. This type of legal representation is commonly used in matters involving family disputes such as divorces or adoption proceedings. Second, a grandparent may secure a specific type of guardianship for their grandchild. Guardianships give a grandparent legal decision-making authority over certain matters on behalf of a grandchild, such as medical care and education decisions. This type of legal representation allows grandparents to make decisions for a grandchild when a parent is unavailable or unable to do so. If a grandparent wishes to pursue either form of legal representation for their grandchild in court, they must first obtain the permission of the court and any necessary consent from a parent of the grandchild. If a grandparent is able to fulfill the requirements to legally represent their grandchild in court, they are allowed to do so under the law in South Carolina.

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Are grandparents allowed to seek legal representation for their grandchild in court?

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