The main question the courts consider in deciding the custody of a child is: what is in the best interest of the child? This principle is connected to grandparents rights, which are the rights permit the grandparents to take a standing in the court on behalf of the child.
How does the court know what is in the best interest of the child? The court takes into consideration many points such as the wishes of the parents, the mental and physical health of the parents, their inputs and their closeness with the child, their ability to raise the child and provide it with education, security, love and care, the living condition of their house etc.
It also considers the wishes of the child depending on its age, the child’s relationship with the other family members and its adjustment to its home, school, community and friends.
During divorces, the parents forget about the welfare of the child in their own quarrels in the court. In such a case, the grandparents argue for the decision that would be in the best interest of the child. These are exactly the situations for which grandparents rights have been created, and that is what makes them so important.
Unfortunately, grandparents rights are in dispute in almost every state all the time. To learn more about this problem read Are we losing our grandparents rights?