Source: https://www.tannerpittmanlaw.com/blog-fiduciary-folio/grandparents-visitation-rights
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 22:43:44+00:00

Document:
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “grandparent” means the parent of a parent of a minor child, the parent of a minor child’s parent who has died, and the parent of a minor child’s parent whose parental rights have been terminated.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, any grandparent shall have the right to file an original action for visitation rights to a minor child or to intervene in and seek to obtain visitation rights in any action in which any court in this state shall have before it any question concerning the custody of a minor child, a divorce of the parents or a parent of such minor child, a termination of the parental rights of either parent of such minor child, or visitation rights concerning such minor child or whenever there has been an adoption in which the adopted child has been adopted by the child’s blood relative or by a stepparent, notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section 19-8-19. This subsection shall not authorize an original action where the parents of the minor child are not separated and the child is living with both of the parents.
(c) Upon the filing of an original action or upon intervention in an existing proceeding under subsection (b) of this Code section, the court may grant any grandparent of the child reasonable visitation rights if the court finds the health or welfare of the child would be harmed unless such visitation is granted, and if the best interests of the child would be served by such visitation. The court shall make specific written findings of fact in support of its rulings. There shall be no presumption in favor of visitation by any grandparent. An original action requesting visitation rights shall not be filed by any grandparent more than once during any two-year period and shall not be filed during any year in which another custody action has been filed concerning the child. After visitation rights have been granted to any grandparent, the legal custodian, guardian of the person, or parent of the child may petition the court for revocation or amendment of such visitation rights, for good cause shown, which the court, in its discretion, may grant or deny; but such a petition shall not be filed more than once in any two-year period.
(2) Assign the issue of visitation rights of a grandparent for mediation.
(e) In the event that the court does not order mediation or upon failure of the parties to reach an agreement through mediation, the court shall fix a time for the hearing of the issue of visitation rights of the grandparent or grandparents.
S11G0867. KUNZ et al. v. BAILEY et al. BENHAM, Justice.
original action where the parents of the minor child are not separated and the child is living with both of the parents.
Appellees moved to dismiss the action, but the trial court denied their motion and so appellees sought relief in the Court of Appeals pursuant to a direct appeal under OCGA §5-6-34 (a) (11).
Did the Court of Appeals correctly “conclude that the limiting language of OCGA § 19-7-3 (b)– forbidding original actions for grandparent visitation if the parents are together and living with the child– includes adoptive parents”? Bailey v. Kunz, 307 Ga. App.
710 (2011). Compare Lightfoot v. Hollins, 308 Ga. App. 538 (2011).
Because we answer the question in the affirmative, we must uphold the judgment by the Court of Appeals.
SE2d 769) (1995), the statute does not otherwise allow grandparents, by court action, to intrude upon the “constitutionally protected interest of parents to raise their children.” Id. at 191.
to that effect in the statute. Accordingly, the Court of Appeals did not err when it concluded that the term “parents” in OCGA §19-7-3 (b) did not exclude an adoptive parent such as Mr. Bailey.
1Finally, Lightfoot v. Hollins, 308 Ga. App. 538, 539 (707 SE2d 491) (2011) is disapproved to the extent the judgment therein is not in keeping with this opinion.

References: v. 
 §5
 § 19
 v. 
 v. 
 §19
 v.