Over the past decade, the phenomenon of grandparents taking on major responsibility for raising their grandchildren has mushroomed. They are often unprepared for the sudden change, at times in conflict with their children, concerned for the grandchildren's safety - and frequently facing a major economic burden. Others find themselves cut off from visiting with their grandchildren, for a variety of reasons, and want to make sure they don't lose touch.

As if that weren't enough, the legal status of grandparents in such situations can be very confusing in California. Grandparents do have rights, but it can be hard to decide whether it makes sense to turn to the courts - and if so, which one. Then there is the challenge of completing and filing the right papers and preparing to face the judge, except for those few who can afford private attorneys.

The Senior Legal Hotline has recognized the great need in this area. Its legal advocates and social work students provide free legal advice by phone to California grandparents on issues regarding custody or visitation of their grandchildren. Callers can receive a copy of our booklet, Grandparent Rights: Legal Guide to Custody and Visitation of Grandchildren in California.  Unfortunately, we can currently assist only callers over age 60.

To contact us for assistance concerning grandparent rights or other legal issues, call the hotline or submit your question by e-mail.

The hotline is also able to help prepare court papers for grandparents who are filing for probate guardianship in Sacramento County. Call first to speak with a hotline advocate who can help you decide whether this is the right step for you.

Eligible Sacramento grandparents who decide to go ahead with a guardianship petition receive a questionnaire with instructions on the information they need to gather. When the completed questionnaire is returned, an attorney at the hotline prepares the probate documents and reviews them with the grandparent. Guardianship petitioners must represent themselves in court. We also have self-help packets for some situations faced by grandparents whose cases must be handled in family court or juvenile court.

The hotline is always looking for volunteer attorneys to assist in the Grandparent Project. For information, please click here.

Hotline staff are available to train and mentor advocates who want to provide grandparent clinics at their local agencies elsewhere in California. We can work with them on an ongoing basis to screen clients by phone, advise them and then refer those who need whatever specialized assistance the local agencies provide.

In-person assistance is available to grandparents at Legal Services of Northern California offices in Redding (low-income clients only), call (530) 241-3565; and Chico (low- income or over age 60), call (530) 345-9491.

In Alameda County, Legal Assistance for Seniors offers assistance to grandparent caregivers -- call (510) 832-3040.

In Sacramento County, a guardianship clinic is also held for low-income clients (not only grandparents) at the Self Help Center, Ridgeway Family Court, (916) 875-2650.

And in many counties, the Family Law Facilitator office associated with the court can offer some help, particularly with cases in family court.

You can print out fliers about our services for grandparents for your use or to post in your community. To see them, please click here.

The Senior Legal Hotline's Grandparent Project is funded by a grant from the National Caregiver Support Program, through Area 4 Agency on Aging and by Legal Services of Northern California. The grandparent rights booklet was prepared with assistance from Area 4 Agency on Aging.