Helmers and Russell team up in Family Law case win that determines grandparent visitation rights

In a decision rendered on Friday, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a Goldberg Simpson client in an important decision related to grandparent visitation. The case is Doane v. Gordon, and the opinion is available here.  The Court held that a grandparent should not have visitation rights with respect to a grandchild when such visitation is contrary to the best interests of the child. The Court also held that the wishes of an abusive mother regarding visitation of her child should not trump the child’s best interests. The Court designated its opinion “To Be Published,” making it controlling precedent in the Commonwealth.

GS lawyers John H. Helmers, Jr. and Allison Russell represented the permanent custodian of the child, who had fought the petition for grandparent’s visitation. Helmers commented that this case is an important win for this family and will allow security for the child.

Russell is establishing herself as an expert on the rights on parents in grandparent visitation cases. She, with other GS family lawyers, represented parents in the landmark grandparent visitation case decided by the Supreme Court of Kentucky in 2012, Walker v. Blair.