This relationship can be complicated, however, if the grandparents and parents do not get along. An adversarial relationship between parents and grandparents can affect grandparents' visitation rights and cause custody disputes. In order to form a bond with their grandchildren, grandparents must spend time with them. However, if parents and grandparents do not get along, parents may limit a grandparent's ability to spend time with his or her grandchild.
Visitation is especially complicated if the parents divorce or one parent dies.
Grandparents may go to court to ask for visitation rights, however, according to a recent Supreme Court decision, grandparents have limited visitation rights. In general, parents have the right to choose when and how much a grandparent gets to see his or her grandchild. Grandparents may be able to overcome this presumption in favor of the parents if they can show a strong bond with the child or that the child would be harmed by not having visitation. Unfortunately, some grandparents believe their grandchildren would be better off living with them instead of with the parents. In general, grandparents must overcome a heavy burden to prove they are entitled to custody.