From Straight Arrow · · 1m 30s
Grandparents Fight for Grandchild Access
Grandparents seek legal access to grandchildren amid family estrangement.
In brief
Grandparents seek legal access to grandchildren amid family estrangement. Grandparents can legally seek visitation with grandchildren in most states, but parents retain primary authority under U.S. law. Originally reported by Straight Arrow.
Grandparents lose contact with grandchildren
For some grandparents, losing contact with a grandchild can mean losing a relationship they once considered a given.
Grandparents create online communities
Across social media, mostly Facebook, grandparents have created communities to share stories about a growing trend of estrangement from their kids.
Estrangement rates rise
In 2020, 27% of Americans aged 18 and older had cut off contact with a family member, and 10% reported an estranged relationship with a parent or child.
Grandparents seek legal visitation
Grandparents have sought and gained more legal avenues to obtain visitation with their grandchildren.
State laws vary
In Wisconsin, grandparents can petition for reasonable visitation if it serves the child's best interest, while California requires proof of a preexisting relationship with the grandchild.
Texas has strict rules
In Texas, grandparents seeking court-ordered visitation over a parent's objection must show denying visitation would significantly impair the child's physical health or emotional well-being.
U.S. Supreme Court limits rights
The U.S. Supreme Court established that parents retain constitutional rights to make decisions about their children's care, custody, and control.
Grandparents face challenges
Grandparents and parents blame each other for estrangements, but both sides need to prioritize the children's best interests over personal conflicts.
The key point
Grandparents can legally seek visitation with grandchildren in most states, but parents retain primary authority under U.S. law.
