The State Senate yesterday approved House amendments to Senator Don White’s bill expanding legal standing for third-parties seeking to gain legal custody of children when no biological or adoptive parent is caring for them.
White says it’s become a particular problem during the opioid crisis when addicted parents can’t care for their children. It allows third parties, especially grandparents, to have legal standing in court matters, allowing them to file for legal custody where parents are deceased or absent, provided they can prove they have a sustained, substantial, and sincere interest in the welfare of the child.
The bill received unanimous support in both the Senate and House and was endorsed by organizations including the Center for Child Advocates and Pennsylvania Legal Services. It essentially restores rights that were limited when the legislature amended the custody and visitation statute in 2010. Those changes resulted in boyfriends and girlfriends getting custody of children, rather than grandparents.
White says the bill, which now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature, puts the grandparents in the courtroom once again, allowing judges to take into account the children’s relationship with all of the concerned parties.
