5' 4 (1.63 m) Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Karen Carpenter moved with her family to Downey, California, in 1963. Karen's older brother, Richard Carpenter, decided to put together an instrumental trio with him on the piano, Karen on the drums and their friend Wes Jacobs on the bass and tuba.
A court may award visitation rights if visitation would be in the child's best interest. A court may award a grandparent the same visitation rights as a parent without custody if the grandparent's child is deceased and the grandparent has provided child support to the grandchild.
If a child's parent decides to relinquish rights, the ordeal of gaining custody is not over but it is simplified. Grandparents must continue with the court process in order to prove that they are the best guardians for the child, but they will not face the possibility of fighting with parents over custody.