Local attorney Janine Curtis presents “Grandparents Have Rights Too,” on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at the Downtown Bend Public Library. Her presentation starts at 6:30 pm and is part of the Know Family series being offered at the library throughout the month of November. The program is free and open to the public.

Grandparents have long been the backbone of the family. In times of trouble they are the first place parents turn. Even so, when parents divorce, the grandparents are often left out of the process. According to Curtis it is the children who ultimately suffer the loss of this important bond with their grandparents. During her presentation Curtis will focus on the rights of grandparent, including how to protect these rights in the case of divorce, death, or other restructuring of the family. She will cover visitation, grandparent custody, child protection, financial issues, and the legal options grandparents have available to them.

Curtis grew up in Northern Idaho and graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law. She has practiced family law and criminal defense in Central Oregon for many years. Recently she worked as a staff attorney for the Tohono O’Odham Nation near Tucson, Arizona. She resumed her family law practice in Bend earlier this year. Janine has developed a special interest in the complex legal and personal issues surrounding grandparents’ rights.

For more information about this or other library programs, please call 312-1032 or visit www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Liz at 312-1032 at least three days prior to event.