When grandparents visitation rights are denied

In many families grandparents visitation is easy and frequent. Grandparents usually have a special relationship with their grandchildren.  However, in some cases, grandparents have to do far more than be caring, loving grandparents.  When parents have problems that prevent them from taking care of their kids, grandparents are usually the first relatives a parent will turn to in their time of need.

What happens to the grandparents’ relationship with a child when a parent suddenly returns after a few years, then demands that the grandparents retreat to their earlier role?

If you are a grandparent who took on a long-term parental role with a grandchild, there are certain grandparent family rights you may feel entitled to.

Even though parents are usually presumed to be fit and able to care for their children without interference, sometimes courts realize that those who have relied on grandparents as substitute parents must allow those grandparents to continue to be in the child’s life in order to avoid harm to the child placed in the middle.

Some states have an expansive interpretation on grandparent visitation rights while others take a narrow interpretation on grandparent visitation rights.  In some instances, the parent has to prove that contact with the grandparents will be detrimental to the child involved. In some instances the burden of proof is on the grandparents.

To find out more about the current state of grandparents visitation rights in the USA you might want to get a copy of my book No Greater Loss.