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Grandparent Rights - State-by-State Rulings
Filed under: Divorce & Custody, Relatives, In The News
States differ on their criteria for granting grandparents visitation and the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights keeps track of state rulings on the issue, which is summarized here.
Since 2001, several states have ruled on the issue -- most against existing laws protecting visitation. California, Florida, Tennessee and New Jersey courts declared existing laws protecting grandparents rights unconstitutional. However, in 2007, New York ruled in favor of grandparents.
Ohio grandparents must prove they have an interest in the child's welfare. In Alabama, courts take into account the moral character of the parents and the age and sex of the children. Rhode Island evaluates the relationship the grandparent has with the child as does Wisconsin.
Parents rights play a role in some states, including California, where the court follows the parents' wishes if both parents refuse grandparents visitation. Oregon and South Carolina consider how grandparent visitation will affect the child-parent relationship.
Some states evaluate the length of time grandparents have spent with their grandchild to determine if visitation rights are in order. New Mexico allows grandparents to petition for visitation rights if the child is older than six and has lived with the grandparent for more than six months; if the child is younger than six, the requirement goes down to three months.
The Legacy of Troxel v. Granville
Since 2001, several states have ruled on the issue -- most against existing laws protecting visitation. California, Florida, Tennessee and New Jersey courts declared existing laws protecting grandparents rights unconstitutional. However, in 2007, New York ruled in favor of grandparents.
Ohio grandparents must prove they have an interest in the child's welfare. In Alabama, courts take into account the moral character of the parents and the age and sex of the children. Rhode Island evaluates the relationship the grandparent has with the child as does Wisconsin.
Parents rights play a role in some states, including California, where the court follows the parents' wishes if both parents refuse grandparents visitation. Oregon and South Carolina consider how grandparent visitation will affect the child-parent relationship.
Some states evaluate the length of time grandparents have spent with their grandchild to determine if visitation rights are in order. New Mexico allows grandparents to petition for visitation rights if the child is older than six and has lived with the grandparent for more than six months; if the child is younger than six, the requirement goes down to three months.
Different states grant grandparents different rights. Credit: jupiterimages
Grandparents can file for visitation in some states only after they have been denied visits for a certain period; in Missouri, it's 90 days. In Texas, parents must be proven incompetent or neglectful, among other criteria, in determining grandparent visitation. In cases where a child is born out of wedlock, certain states require paternity tests, including Nebraska and Illinois.
When a child is put up for adoption in California, Connecticut and New York, grandparents do not lose their rights to see the child. However, all rights are cut off in Alabama, Delaware, Idaho,Virginia, West Virginia, Utah, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon, Nebraska, Maryland and New Hampshire. The remaining states allow grandparents to pursue rights depending on the relationship of the adoptive parent to the grandparent.
For more on each state's laws regarding grandparents rights, contact the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights.
To find out the Grandparents Rights in your state, click here.
The Legacy of Troxel v. Granville
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
9-10-2009 @ 10:16AM
Karen said...Grandparents do not have rights. Any courts that makes them up and gives visitation to grandparents over the objections of parents are wrong.
That doesn't mean that that aren't crappy parents denying relationships to some wonderful grandparents, but for a court to override the wishes of the parents is just wrong.
Reply
9-14-2009 @ 11:10PM
Roo said...I attempted to have my ex-MIL's contact rights cut off 6 years ago, when my girls were 9 & 11 years old. She was mean and spiteful when my ex would bring them over to her house during his visitation time. Her cards and letters were hurtful to the point where the counselor advised to not give them to the girls anymore and with his blessing and guidance, I filed for a harassment restraining order.
The judge refused to listen to what my girls had to say and indicated that since she signed her cads "Love, Grandma", she must be ok and he tossed out the request.
Ironically, we haven't heard from her since. So legally we lost, but in all other respects, we won. :o)
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9-14-2009 @ 2:14PM
Kym said...Grandparents do not have rights to their children's children. This is absolutely ridiculous. It is my child, not theirs. I am completely sickened by the fact that there are laws favoring the grandparents over the parents. In my case, my spouses parents are bigots and in no way do I want my child exposed to that kind of thinking.
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