| Children are the best companions to the aging | | | | Visitation Rights Enforcement Act) in 1998 |
| grandparents. In the past they were under | | | | guaranteed that the grandparents could visit their |
| grandparent's custody irrespective of their parents | | | | grandchildren anywhere in the United States if they |
| alive or not. Later the society has undergone changes | | | | had visitation rights in any one state. |
| and now separation, divorce, premature deaths to | | | | In recent times the issue became more complicated |
| parents are most common among the society. In | | | | due to frequent divorce, drug, and alcohol addiction |
| these circumstances grandparent's rights on their | | | | and family separations in large numbers in the society. |
| loving grandchildren become questioned which | | | | The merits and demerits of any particular case |
| necessitated for legislative rulings for grandparent's | | | | depend on the circumstances as the sudden |
| visitation rights on children. It is a legal right to keep in | | | | separation from the loved ones causes emotional |
| touch with the children in the event of any of the | | | | problems to grandparents and children alike. In 2000 |
| parents objects such an act due to the reasons | | | | the U S Supreme Court delivered an important |
| stated earlier. In the US all states have separate | | | | judgment in the case of Troxel v. Granville in which it |
| statues that give permission to the grandparents to | | | | was stated that a parent who provided adequate |
| maintain contact with their children. | | | | care for the children was free to take a decision on |
| Though all fifty states have regulations on | | | | the matter with whom the children would associate |
| grandparent's legal rights, it varies considerably on | | | | and leaving the matter to court decisions would be in |
| procedure and practice. Since the matter is crucial to | | | | conflict with the parent's basic constitutional rights. |
| the physical and emotional development of the child, | | | | Though this interpretation from the apex court was |
| the courts always ruled that the best interest of the | | | | widely criticized the state courts still take the |
| child should always be protected when granting | | | | judgment as basis for any subsequent decisions. |
| visitation rights to grandparents. In all states the law | | | | Several grandparents' organizations in US are moving |
| requires that it is the responsibility of the grandparent | | | | for a suitable legislation to address the issue promptly. |
| to prove that visitation is in the best interest of the | | | | And as a grandparent please keep your |
| grandchild. | | | | grandchildren's best interest in mind. I hope that you |
| Over the years all states adopted the legislation | | | | are one of those lucky grandparents that has a good |
| which assured the grandparents rights for petition in | | | | relationship with your grandchildren and their parents |
| the case of parental death or separation. The | | | | but if your are not please search out your options at |
| legislation provided satisfactory relief to the | | | | grandparents rights The rights of grandparents raising |
| grandparents and the children but when the custodian | | | | grandchildren are certainly something to check out. I |
| of the child moved to another state, the | | | | wish you all the best. Good luck with your |
| grandparents needed to fight again in that state for | | | | grandchildren. |
| the same issue. To solve this, The passing of the ( | | | | |