Does an aunt have rights to visitation

I have two nieces that i have not seen for four years. Their mother and father were divorced and both remarried. I am the sister of the mother who has moved away. The father and his new wife will not let us see the children. I half raised these girls and they were 8 and 7 when they were taken away. The father lives in a town 25 miles away. I do not know his address, or telephone #. His family doesnt want to get involved. I love these children and want to have a relationship with them. I have nothing against the father or the new wife but it seems they dont want the children to have anything to do with this side of the family. How old do they have to be before they can see me, and do i have any rights to seek out visitation? Please help me if you can i really miss them.

My response:

Do you see that writing in RED, above? Without a State name, we can't even attempt to assist you, if we're even able to assist you at all. Laws are different everywhere.

IAAL

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Why don't you see the children during their mothers (your sisters) visitation ?

Some states (which is why the state name is important) allow interested parties to have visitation, but that seems to be getting more difficult to win these days. The fact that you have not seen them for 4 years will go against you..

Also, for you to get visitation, you have to endure a bitter battle with the current parents as they will fight tooth and nail against you. Therefore, even in the highly unlikely possibility that you should get court ordered visitation, your reception will be cold, the kids will be turned against you and most of the time the parents will refuse you to take the children anyway. Which means more trips to the court until one day, the order is overturned and you are back to square one, minus around $5000 in legal fees.

As regards to the children coming to you.. First, they will need to know where you are and how to get in touch with you.. and have the means to arrange a visit.. but also be old enough to not be stopped by their current parents. Since they do not know that you miss them, then unless you can find a way to write, then there is little you can do except wait..