Allow me to give you a bit of background info. I have a daughter who is about to be seven years old. The biological father and his family have not seen her, called, or sent a card in almost 5 years. Today, it was finalized in court that I have full custody, the biological father has NO visitation, and her last name was changed to mine (which is also my husbands, and the child that my husband and I have together.) My daughter's biological father has spent the majority of these past few years in prison. Our relationship was abusive, he was a drug addict, and he is currently facing 10-20 years in prison.
His family came to the court house today and after the judge ordered that I had full custody and he has no visitation, his mother (after leaving the courtroom) began asking his lawyer about grandparent visitation rights. Let me give you some background on this woman. She has been arrested ten or more times in the past few years, her latest arrest being in July 2007 for interfering with a police officer (while he was arresting her son....my daughter's biological father) and for giving false information to the police. Past convictions have been for grand larceny, burglary, etc. She has dated at least 4 or 5 different men that I know of in the past few years. She is currently shacked up with some random man (they are not married) of whom I know NOTHING about. She is a drug user, and has even allowed her children to do drugs, along with doing drugs with them. I do not know if she has any drug charges to back this up, but I could pretty much bet that she would fail a drug test at any given time (I have known her to smoke marijuana, snort cocaine, and smoke crack). She allowed her children (now grown) to smoke cigarettes, do drugs, drop out of school before they were in the 9th grade..all while they were underage IN HER HOUSE.
About a year and a half ago, she showed up on my doorstep. Stupidly, I had forgotten to have our phone number and address not listed in the phone book and I assume this is how she found me. I didn't look out the peephole when the doorbell rang. My husband was golfing and I was expecting him around this time. I yanked open the door and there she stood, with some strange man. She proceeded to say "Where is (my daughter's name)? I want to see her." Her pupils were floating around in her head, and I could tell she was doped up on something. After all, who shows up at someone's house when they haven't spoken to them or the child in two years? She didn't even attempt to call.
I told her politely that my daughter and I were busy and that she needed to leave my home. About this time, my daughter came up behind me. "Hi (my daughters name)", she said. My daughter didn't say anything, and I told her to go upstairs, and I would be up there shortly.
I again asked her to leave my property. She said she was not leaving without seeing my child. I proceeded to tell her that I was calling the police. She told me to call the police, that she would wait right there for them. I shut the door in her face, locked the deadbolt, and got on the phone to the police. They got in their truck, pulled into my driveway, sat there for about five minutes, then left before the police got there. This was the last time we saw them (other than in court.) When she left, my daughter came downstairs and said, wide-eyed "Mama, who was that woman? How did she know my name? Mama, I don't like for strangers to come to the door. I didn't like her." That was the words that came out of her mouth. Other than at court today, this was the only contact made. (No Christmas or birthday cards or gifts, no phone calls, letters, etc.)
I honestly believe in doing what is best for my child. I understand that there are good parents and grandparents out there who are unfairly being denied the right to have a relationship with their child/grandchild. However, in my situation, no good would come out of this. This woma is a known drug user. She has a LOOOOONG criminal record. She jumps from man to man, living with each of them. She has not had any contact with my child in almost 5 years, other than the incident of her showing up on my doorstep drugged out of her mind. She allowed her children to do things in her home that were disgusting (sex, drugs, alcohol). The thought of any possible visitation with this "woman" makes my stomach turn. My husband and I are Christians. We go to church, we live clean lives. We don't do drugs, we don't drink a drop of alcohol. We own our own home, and we are financially and mentally stable. My child is happy and well supported. She has a wonderful relationship with my parents, my husband (her daddy), and my husband's family, whom she is attached to and loves very much.
Sorry this was so long, but I felt the background info was necessary. Does anyone know anything about the laws in South Carolina regarding these "grandparent rights"? What factors come into play? (For example, will the fact that she lives with a strange man, who also drives her around because she does not have a driver's license, be a factor? The past drug use? etc) Any info anyone can give me, I would appreciate!

