Do grandparents have the right to seek visitation of grandchildren?

Question

What are the laws and where can I find information on this? I am specifically seeking when a parent does not want his parents to see the children.

I want to clarify I am NOT the grandparent. The grandparent is currently harboring a run away of the parents', having refused to return her AND let her cross state lines to do so. She has a 35 year old son living at home who has never had a job, and thirty years ago moved her kids to several states to avoid their father who was not abusive or unstable. She, on the other hand, has been proven to be so.

Answer 1

You need to provide more information to get the answers you're looking for:
The grandparent is currently harboring a run away of the parents'
(what state did the child live & where is the child now living), having refused to return her (is the child willing to return & if not, are there reasons for the grandmother's concern about the child's return);
AND let her cross state lines to do so (did the grandmother force her to come to her home? did the child make the arrangements with her grandmother to come to her home?

The law varies from state to state re family rights and it doesn't sound like the grandmother has any contact with the child's parents (her son/daughter & inlaw).

Answer 2

I know a lady who did win visitation rights to see her grandchildren fairly recently. Most family judges will intervene in some way for the best interests of the child. This may include legal rulings or arbitration between you and the children's parents. Do you know why your son does not want you to see his children? He may have a perfectly valid reason, in his mind, why you should not be around his children. Without knowing the details, a good answer cannot be given. However, in most states, grandparents have very few rights, especially when a parent objects.

Answer 3

If the parents are in legal control, then the grandparents might have to hire an attorney to represent them to see their grandchild. Parents should think very carefully before excluding children from seeing their grandparents. But if the grandparents are not "fit" then they probably will not have visitation rights.

Answer 4

I even have heard of grandparents being granted the ideal to bypass to their grand young ones yet that for the duration of lots of situations takes a protracted drawn out and extreme priced courtroom conflict or maybe then the opportunities are no longer the excellent.

Answer 5

Unless it can be proven that the grandparents have abused the children, most courts will rule in their favor that they be given visitation.

And if the grandparents are innocent, I marvel that selfish parents want to abuse their own children by denying them the love of their grandparents. What an awful world we live in today.

Answer 6

Every state is different and even in cases where the law clearly grants these rights you will need a lawyer to be successful in court.

Answer 7

Best to check with a lawyer. The legal practices vary a great deal from state to state.

Answer 8

Sorry to say, but you have no rights to the children at all. It is a legal guardian or parents decision who the children may see. Maybe you could have a talk with your son/daughter and tell them that you'd really love to see your grand kids. If they don;t want you around, then there is nothing you can do about it. Perhaps, they have a viable reason why they don't want you involved in their children's life. It is up to you to do something about that.

Answer 9

Unless your particular jurisdiction has statutory protection to that effect for the grandparents, then the answer to your basic question is "no." To find out about your jurisdiction, consult with an attorney, or, alternatively, consult with the local office of child protective services. Beware, however, that the latter WILL often lie and stick their nose into places where it really doesn't belong.

Answer 10

The Grandparents have no rights to the child what-so-ever.