Can Child Custody Be Granted to Grandparents in WA?

November 4, 2025    Family Lawyers Perth
Can Child Custody Be Granted to Grandparents in WA?

Family relationships are sometimes complex, particularly when parents divorce or fail to take care of their children. In these cases, grandparents usually intervene to offer love, stability and support. But are grandparents, or can they be, given legal custody of their grandchildren in Western Australia? Yes, the grandparents can seek custody or visitation of the children with the help of a lawyer for child custody under the Family Court of WA, provided under some conditions.

 

Understanding Grandparent Custody Rights in WA

The Family Law Act 1975 allows grandparents to seek parenting orders for child custody, ensuring their importance in a child’s life. Courts prioritise the child’s best interests over the preferences of parents or grandparents when making decisions about living arrangements and communication. Hence, it is essential to seek the services of the best family lawyers in Perth.

 

The Family Court of WA assesses grandparent applications based on the child-grandparent relationship, the child’s wishes, and potential emotional and physical benefits, prioritising the child’s safety and stability, necessitating the experience of the top family lawyers in Perth.

 

When Grandparents Can Apply for Custody

Under certain circumstances, grandparents can request custody of the child through the best child custody lawyers Perth when parents of the children fail to meet the needs of the child owing to illness, drugs, neglect or domestic violence. They can also be applied in situations where one already plays a primary caregiving role and wishes to make it legal.

 

Grandparents must typically go through Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) before going to court, attempting to mediate with the parents. In case of failure or inadvisability of mediation on safety grounds, a Section 60I certificate permits the situation to be taken to court. This may be a complicated process, and it is necessary to seek the advice of child support lawyers in Perth.

 

The Court’s Considerations

In deciding on whether to allow grandparents to have custody or visits, the Family Court considers:

  • Strength and history of the child-grandparent relationship
  • The capacity of the grandparent to offer a good and stable home.
  • The possibility of injury, abuse, or domestic abuse.
  • The impact that a change in living conditions can produce on the child.
  • The feasibility of the proposed visitation or custody.

It is necessary to realise that the court does not necessarily play in favour of parents against grandparents. Instead, the judge evaluates what placement will be most beneficial to the child in terms of emotional, social, and developmental needs in the long run. Hence, seek the services of family law lawyers Perth WA for accurate judgments.

 

Custody vs. Visitation Rights

Grandparents seek visitation/ time orders as opposed to full custody in most situations. Such orders enable them to stay in touch with each other regularly and take an active part in the life of their grandchild. The court may, however, give primary care of the children to grandparents in situations where the parents are not fit or cannot take care of the children.

 

The presence of family lawyers Perth WA will make a big difference. They may assist in the preparation of the required documentation, represent you in the process of mediation or the court session, and make sure that your application will clearly show how the best interests of the child will be addressed.

 

Common Challenges in Grandparent Custody Cases

As the law assists the right of a child to meaningful parental relations with grandparents, it is not always simple to gain custody. It is an emotionally difficult and legally strenuous process. Such obstacles as establishing that the custody is in the best interest of the child, coping with conflicts with parents of the child and fulfilling the evidentiary demands of the court may be listed among some common ones.

 

Seeking the services of family lawyers Perth will make sure that you get the right advice depending on your case. These professionals are able to assist grandparents to prepare good evidence, seek interim orders where necessary and to deal with the legal complexities of the Family Court process.

 

Final Thoughts

Custodial visitation rights can be awarded to grandparents in Western Australia, although the matter must be well-proven to be in the best interests of the child through the assistance of experienced child custody lawyers Perth. The Family Court values stability, safety and emotional well-being of the child more than anything.

 

With the help of professional child custody lawyers Perth, the grandparents will be able to maneuver the legal system and concentrate on what really counts, the happiness and well-being of their grandchildren.

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