With changing familial structures that involve divorce and remarriage, some family relationships and roles fall to the wayside. Grandparents are often victims of these changes, with their grandparents visitation rights commonly terminated upon a relationship’s demise.

Because of the bond between grandparent and grandchild, it’s important to understand just what constitutes grandparents visitation rights.

Grandparents’ rights are actually governed by state statutes, which are given effect in other jurisdictions via federal law. Generally speaking, grandparents’ rights to visitation fall into one of two categories: restrictive and permissive.

Restrictive statutes only permit grandparents visitation if parents have divorced or if one is deceased. Most statutes are more permissive in that they don’t wholly rest on the status of the parental relationship. Beyond parental roles, grandparents’ rights are predicated on a variety of factors.

Courts consider the needs and wishes of the child, the ability of all parties to provide for the child, and the strength of the grandchild-grandparent relationship. Ultimately, the court bases its decision on what is in the best interest of the child, with substantial deference being given to a fit parent’s right to make decisions.

When all is said and done, courts will generally make reasonable requests of parents if a visitation schedule can’t be worked out by the parties themselves. But this will not happen if you do not understand the process and how to press for your rights.

So if you’re in a situation where you’d like to visit your grandchild but are forbidden from doing so you need to get yourself informed on the matter quickly. Here are a few ways to do so:

I have written a comprehensive book which has served as a guide for grandparents who are having visitation problems regarding their grandchildren, or just want to understand grandparents right in the USA as a whole. You can get a copy for yourself below:

No Greater Loss: The Guidebook to Today’s Grandparents Rights by Neil Taft

Also you can keep up to date on the latest issues regarding grandparents rights by following the Caring Grandparents blog, which I update regularly with news and which also has links to many other sources of information:

Caring Grandparents blog

You can also follow me on Twitter for grandparents rights updates:

Neil Taft Cares on Twitter

If you are potentially going to court over your grandparents rights, The Custody Center can be a great help to you:

The Custody Center

Remember, in the fight over grandparents rights information is key. Get informed now! If you have a specific question you can even email me at neiltaftcares@gmail.com