I have a legal question for anyone in the know....

[madmom]

My son and daughter-in-law live in West Virginia just over the state line from Maryland. Her ex lives in Maryland. They just received a call saying the child protective services will be there on Wed. because her ex filed charges of child abuse. Now this is the 7th time in 18 months this has happened and every charge was investigated and dismissed. The children involved are my sons, NOT his, he has all but said he is trying to get them declared unfit parents so the girls are taken away from them. My question, is there anything I as a grandparent, who lives in yet another state (Ohio) can do about this blatant abuse of the law?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Get in touch with a lawyer in WVA.

Grandparents' rights vary from state to state; you won't be able to get adequate legal advice on DU.

[democracyindanger]

2. as well as one in WV, and WV CPS

It's their jurisdiction, and WV, not Maryland, laws apply.

[Flaxbee]

3. look for nonprofit legal services first...

often they can give you a run-down of legal concerns/options, and sometimes they can suggest a few lawyers who are knowledgeable in family law.

Even if there are no direct grandparents' rights for this kind of situation, there might be a way to block further frivolous lawsuits. States are really edgy about child protective cases and are loathe to not investigate, but if you can show abuse of the court system by the ex, that might stop him for a bit (or longer).

You could also see if it is possible that if your son/daughter-in-law were declare "unfit" you would become the kids' guardian, not the schmucky ex.