At O’Brian & Associates, we believe that children are raised best when they are surrounded by their family members. Proper development of self-esteem, stability and identity are deeply interconnected with cooperative community ties within the family. If you are a grandparent seeking to establish visitation rights with your grandchild, contact our family law attorney. We would be proud to offer you the compassionate legal support and highly effective guidance that you require in order to achieve your goals. Although your rights are more vulnerable, you do have limited visitation rights to your grandchild under law. However, if the parents of your grandchild are living and married, you do not have the right to see your grandchild. A parent’s decision to keep his or her child away from a grandparent is generally validated by law. If the parents are divorced, the child is in non-parent custody, the parents are separated, or one of the parents has died, you have the right to remain in contact with your grandchild. Let us help you take advantage of your rights!
Do You Want To Establish
Grandparents’ Rights?
Grandparent’s play a significant role in the lives and upbringing of their grandchildren. Our family lawyer is passionate about protecting that role.
Contact Us TodayGrandparents’ Rights Attorney
Helping Grandparents Maintain Family Ties: (425) 629-0060
When Can I Request Visitation Or Custody?
It is important to understand that the court will only grant visitation rights to a grandparent if he or she had a prior bond with the grandchild. State court understands that the continuation of this bond is within the best interests of the child.
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When A Parent Passed Away
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When A Stepparent Has Adopted The Grandchild
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When The Grandchild Is No Longer Living With Either Parent
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When One Parent Has Been Sent To Jail, Prison Or Institutionalized
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When The Parents Are Not Married To One Another
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When A Divorce Or Other Proceeding Is Pending
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When One Of The Parents Has Not Been Located For One Month
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When The Parents Are Married But Separated On An Indefinite Basis
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When One Of The Parents Applies With The Grandparents
Frequently Asked Questions
We Have The Answers That You Need
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Questions
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When Can I Sue For Visitation Rights?
Answer
You are entitled to sue for visitation rights under the following circumstances: the parents of your grandchild no longer live together, one of the parents of your grandchild has been missing for more than 30 days, your grandchild does not want to live with his or her biological parents, the step-parent of your grandchild has adopted him or her.
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Can Court Ordered Visitation Be Modified Or Terminated?
Answer
Yes, a court ordered grandparent visitation order can be modified or terminated. However, the party seeking to terminate or modify the visitation order must file a Motion to Modify in District Court. In addition, if the original grandparent visitation agreement was pursuant to an Agreed Visitation Order, the party seeking to modify or terminate the agreements will be required to prove the change of circumstances. In addition, the party seeking to modify or terminate must show that this action is within the best interests of the child.
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As A Grandparent, Can I Be The Legal Guardian?
Answer
A grandparent can be the legal guardian of his or her grandchild. In fact, guardianship may be necessary for a number of reasons including the following: the parent’s health, the parent’s military duty (requiring him or her to leave the country) or parental unfitness. Guardianship can be granted with our without the agreement of the parent(s). If granted despite the objection of the parent(s), the court determined it would be within the best interest of the child to grant guardianship to the child’s grandparent(s).
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Susan Millican O'Brian J.D.
CEO of O'Brian & Associates
Susan Millican O'Brian is the founder of the O'Brian & Associates, where she exclusively practices family law. As the managing officer of the corporation, she not only oversees the running of our firm, she also works closely with each of our associate attorneys, meeting bi-weekly to strategize. Together, we bring our combined total of 60+ years of experience of practicing law to every case we handle and help our clients achieve the best possible results.
Attorney O'Brian has represented clients in many dissolution cases involving significant property interests, including but not limited to the valuation and disposition of retirement, pension, employment benefits and stock option/stock awards. She also assists clients with spousal maintenance, parenting and child support matters.
Our office is committed to our clients and Attorney O'Brian listens to their concerns and goals. She has developed an effective style of paying meticulous attention to detail, and delivering unwavering advocacy on behalf of our clients. She has a dedication to professionalism that is recognized by our clients, court, and the opposition.
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Lisa H. Do J.D.
Attorney
Lisa H. Do is dedicated to helping people navigate through what can be a complex legal system, while also fighting for the best outcome for her clients and their families. Lisa first became interested in family law while performing volunteer work at community centers for children. She met numerous parents dealing with not only the emotional distress of a divorce, but also trying to understand the legal system. Her interest and desire to help these parents propelled her to go to law school and to eventually practice family law.
Lisa is acutely aware of the significant impact any legal proceeding can have on a family. Her top priorities are always to obtain the results clients desire, and to ensure they understand how their lives will be affected, both from a legal and personal context. Multi-talented, Attorney Do can serve as an aggressive advocate or a cooperative opposing counsel, depending upon the particular circumstances of the case. She is an experienced litigator who is also well equipped to resolve cases in the most advantageous manner for the client.
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Kathryn F. Peterson
Attorney
During law school, Kathryn Peterson was a judicial extern to Federal District Judge Thomas J. Whelan, served on the "San Diego Law Review," was a contributing editor to the "Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues," and was a member of USD's National Moot Court Tax Team. She is admitted to both the Washington and California State Bars. She is also admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of California.
Following law school, Kathryn clerked for the Honorable Louisa S. Porter in the United States District Court in San Diego, California. After completing her clerkship, Kathryn practiced complex commercial litigation for several years before serving on the Board of Directors for International Microcomputer Software, Inc. In 2007, Kathryn joining The Walt Disney Company/ABC as Counsel, Legal Affairs.
In 2012, Kathryn founded her own family law firm in San Diego and was active in the Honorable Fiorenzo V. Lopardo Inn of Court. In 2015, together with her husband and three dogs, she moved from San Diego to Seattle where Kathryn continues to focus her practice on family law. She is particularly passionate about her volunteer work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate ("CASA") for dependent children in King County, WA.
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Marcia L. Fisher J.D.
Attorney
Marcia Fisher began practicing law in Virginia and, in 1994, moved back to her home state of Washington and started practicing law here. She is an accomplished litigator who determines and implements effective strategies for clients during all phases of a case. During her past 26 years of practice, she has represented parties in all areas of family law. She has also served as a guardian ad litem for children and incapacitated individuals, and has experience communicating with individuals from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. With mediation training, she is also an accomplished negotiator.
Marcia has participated in multi-week trials; evidentiary hearings regarding the admission of expert testimony, the enforceability of a postnuptial agreement, litigated challenges to a CR2A Agreement, and argued motions in limine. She has also examined over 200 trial exhibits in a case revealing the opposing party falsified documents effectively presented direct evidence and illustrative documents of complex financial transactions, and made numerous appearances before Family Law Commissioners and Judges in both King and Snohomish County.
Learn About the Difference
O'Brian & Associates Can Make in Your Family Law Case
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Our Founder Is in The National Advocates: Top 100 Lawyers List
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Team of Attorneys with at Least 10 Years of Experience Each
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Cutting-Edge Office & Communications Technology
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Our Counsel Is Customized to Fit Every Client's Unique Needs
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Attention to Detail, Accessibility & Responsive Service
Our Client Testimonials
Your Case is in Good Hands
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“The result of their hard work was very favorable for my daughter and I. I am so thankful to this team and the changes they were able to make for my life and my family. Everyone associated with this office has always gone above and beyond what I expected.”
N.M.
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“Susan and her firm have stood by me and my family throughout my custody hearing. Their support has been extremely reassuring in this unbearable situation.”
J.P.
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“This office treated me extremely well throughout my case. I had a very difficult and emotionally charged divorce and their team was with me and my children every step of the way. I always felt that I had a strong advocate on my side. ”
V.V.
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“I very much appreciate all of your hard work and help seeing me through the process. It really made a big difference having you both in my corner.”
K & D.T.
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“Thank you for all of your support hard work and kindness over the past 10 months. You made me feel as if I were your only client.”
W.T.
