Grandmother upset

[ASkipper08]

My husband and I share three young children together, and have decided it would be perfectly fine for them to go visit my family out of state for Halloween and possibly Thanksgiving. My husband's mother has been very upset over this, going to the extent of lying to my aunt about having court papers preventing her from removing one of the children from the state, and taking only one child! I tracked my mother in law down and come to find out she had no court papers. My husband took the one child that his mother took from the airport to Alaska today to see my aunt. Now his mother is steaming, and is threatening to call child protective services. I do not believe she has a case because we are not unfit parents whatsoever. I am a full time college student and my husband works full time, and we have just moved into a new home. What can I do in this situation? Will CPS get involved since my children are not endangered?

[Attorney Allison Belcher]

In Florida, Grandparents do not have rights. If CPS does get involved, as long as the children are not being abandoned abused or neglected, then nothing will happen. However, they may investigate with no findings.

By your post, I am assuming that you agree with the father taking the children to Alaska?

Allison A. Belcher, Esq.
7623 Little Road, Ste 200B
New Port Richey, FL 34654
727-844-7676

[Attorney Cheri Hobbs]

If you and your spouse have not put the children in danger then you are allowed to send them off to a family member or friend for a vacation. It seems that your mother-in-law is merely upset by some underlying issue. If child protection services contacts you then cooperate and explain the situation in depth...it is not likely that there will be a case filed based on what you wrote about. Take a DEEP breath and try to enjoy the holidays.

Attorney Cheri Hobbs

The Divorce Center
7635 Ashley Park Drive Suite 503K
Orlando, FL 32835

Orlando Divorce Attorney

[The Divorce Center]

The previous responses by the attorneys are correct. Grandparents do not have specific rights in Florida, unless they have a court order stating otherwise. I am trying to figure out why there is a problem. How old are the children? Are they in school? If your children are (or should be) attending school, then sending them to Alaska from Halloween through Thanksgiving will be a problem.

Attorney Brian Arrighi
The Divorce Center
703 W. Bay Street
Tampa, FL 33606
813-774-4529