Legal scholars, psychologists and sociologists have pointed out the many ways that grandparent visitation statutes harm the children they are purportedly designed to serve, and their families as well. The litigation strains the family's economic resources. The intrusiveness of the proceedings and the challenge posed to the parent's authority causes the child extreme anxiety, confusion and dislocation. The detailed and public airing of family secrets and disagreements, in a process whose adversarial nature magnifies every disagreement, leaves a residue of anger, humiliation and distrust which greatly reduces the chances of a peaceful reconciliation between parent and grandparent. The children become the innocent victim of long-term loyalty conflicts.
Divorce rocks a child's world.
The death of a parent is even worse. Grandparent visitation lawsuits make it even harder for the child to cope. The litigation drains away financial resources already strained by widowhood or divorce. Grandparents are often better positioned to bear the costs of litigation. This may allow the grandparents to coerce the parents into an undesirable settlement to avoid ruinous litigation expenses.