Can grandparents be granted child visitation rights after a divorce?
In many contested divorce cases involving child custody and visitation disputes, divorcing couples refuse to allow the grandparents of their ex-spouse to visit with their child. However, grandparents may pursue child visitation rights through family court. Grandparents can file a motion of complaint with a court to request visitation with their grandchildren. The parents will be served with the complaint and a number of options are available to the parents and grandparents. In many states, ex-spouses and grandparents may handle their visitation issues through custody mediation, in which a court-appointed mediator helps the parties agree on a fair visitation schedule. If an agreement cannot be made, the grandparent visitation dispute will be brought before a judge who will determine visitation rights based on a number of factors including the best interest of the child. In most cases, the court will recognize that grandparents provide a stable role in their grandchildren’s lives, especi
