By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Heather Biddle, Esq. | Last reviewed December 26, 2022
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Grandparents in every state in the country have rights, in some circumstances, to be given custody of their grandchildren or to be awarded court-mandated visitation with their grandchildren. Grandparents' rights do not come from the Constitution, nor did they exist traditionally. Recognition of grandparents' rights by state legislatures is a fairly recent trend, and most of the statutes granting these rights have been in effect for less than 40 years.
This article provides a brief overview of grandparents' rights regarding visitation and custody of their grandchildren.
The basic premise of allowing grandparents visitation rights is that a child needs grandparents, and other family members, in their lives in order to grow up to be a healthy adult. Grandparent visitation laws often expand visitation rights to other family members as well, including siblings. When this is the case, it may be called "third-party visitation rights" or "nonparent visitation rights."
Visitation rights for non-parents are most common when a child's immediate family is no longer intact. Sometimes this means that parents have divorced and the child would benefit from having grandparents in their life, even if the child's custodial parent does not agree. In other situations, nonparent visitation rights are granted when a child is adopted, or put in foster care. Courts are more likely to grant non-parent visitation when the child has been adopted or is in foster care because the child's biological parents' wishes are not at issue.
When a nonparent asks a court for visitation rights, they must show that visitation is in the best interests of the child. When determining if visitation rights are appropriate, courts consider a number of factors, including:
Federal legislation may affect grandparents' rights, though these rights are based primarily on state law. Congress passed the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act in 1980, which requires that each state give full faith and credit to child custody decrees from other states. Federal legislation titled The Visitations Rights Enforcement Law passed in 1998 also requires that courts in each state recognize and enforce grandparental visitation orders from courts in other states.
The United States Supreme Court in the case of Troxel v. Granville (2000) determined that the Washington visitation statute violated the due process rights of parents to raise their children. This case and similar decisions by state courts caused several state legislatures to consider bills that would modify or completely revise visitation rights in those states.
Some courts have determined that state statutes providing visitation to grandparents are unconstitutional. Most state laws related to grandparent rights, however, have survived intact. Nevertheless, grandparents who seek to attain visitation rights should check the current status of the law in their respective states.
As you can see, federal and state laws are beginning to recognize the important role that grandparents can play in a child's life. However, these rights and the process used to exercise them can differ among the states. Thankfully, you can contact a local child custody attorney who can advise you on the law in your state and advocate for your interests.
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