Take 2: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

That's a cute baby. Grandma is cute too!

Most grandparents love to spend time with their grandchildren, but also look forward to returning the little munchkin(s) back to their parents at the end of the day.

For more and more families, however, grandparents are taking on the primary responsibility of raising their grandchildren. An article in the Great Falls Tribune in Montana highlights the story of several grandparents raising their grandchildren. The story can be found here.

The reasons grandparents become the primary caregiver to their grandchildren are many. Typically, it becomes necessary when the parent is unable to provide for the grandchild due to illness, drug abuse, or problems with the law. In most states, grandparents can become the legal guardian or receive custody rights if the child's parents are unwilling or unable to care for them. Adoption may also be an option for grandparents and parents to consider.

A guardianship may become necessary so that the grandparent can supervise where the grandchild lives, be certain they are enrolled in school, and make medical decisions for the grandchild. If the parent(s) of the child determine it's best to relinquish all of their parental rights, grandparents may be able to adopt their grandchildren.

An issue often not addressed is the health and well-being of the grandparent. Most of the time the focus is on what is best for the child, but grandparents need to consider their health as well. For example, grandparents often worry about who will take care of the child if they became seriously ill or disabled. Having a proper estate plan to provide for the grandchild can be very important for these folks.

Finally, if a grandchild has a disability, it may be necessary to set up a Special Needs Trust so that the grandchild can continue to receive federal and state benefits such as Social Security Income (SSI) and Medi-Cal. This type of trust will also allow trust monies to supplement the disabled child's benefits without interfering with public benefits.

To learn more, and for additional resources, please visit Grandparents Raising Grandchildren--Realizing You're Not Alone.

Update: there is a great article about the health and work challenges Grandparents raising Grandchildren are facing during this recession. From the New York Times, it can be found by clicking here.