Third Party Custody and Visitation

There is a legal presumption under the United States Constitution that fit parents act in the best interests of their children. However, under Oregon law, there are certain circumstances in which a third party, such as a grandparent, can obtain custody or visitation rights (parenting time) if the third party has a child-parent relationship or an ongoing personal relationship with a child of other parents, and if the third party can prove that the parents are not acting in the best interests of the child.

There are legal and factual hurdles that can make obtaining third party custody or visitation a difficult task. At Zimmer & Bunch, we can help you assess whether you have a viable claim for third party custody or visitation. If a third party is seeking to establish custody or visitation rights to your child, we will work with you to determine what is best for your child.