Grandparents' Rights to Child

Visitation

• Most states will grant grandparents visitation rights if a court determines it is in the best interest of the child. Reasons for not granting visitation would include abusive behavior by the grandparent.
  
  

Troxel v. Granville

• The Supreme Court overruled Washington State law in Troxel v. Granville. The Supreme Court ruled in the favor of Tommie Granville, the mother of two daughters who remarried after the father of the daughters committed suicide. The grandparents wanted increased visitation, but Granville did not approve, nor did the Supreme Court, which ruled parents have the right to control the care of their children .
  
  

Custody

• Grandparents may file for custody of their grandchildren only under certain circumstances, such as when the biological parents are deemed unfit to raise the child.
  
  

Relationship Established

• If a child's biological parent has given up his parental rights, the grandparent related to that biological parent may lose her visitation rights unless a court deems that a beneficial relationship between child and grandparent has already been established.
  
  

GRO

• Some groups are devoted to helping grandparents with visitation rights. For example, the Grandparents Rights Organization (GRO), founded in 1984, supplies legal assistance to Michigan grandparents regarding visitation and custody rights. Grandparents' rights may be threatened when one of the biological parents dies or the biological parents divorce.