Source: https://www.okbar.org/barjournal/mar2018/obj8907mcbride/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 02:10:22+00:00

Document:
Grandparents do not have a constitutional right to their grandchildren. The right of visitation to any grandparent of an unmarried minor child shall be granted only so far as that right is authorized and provided by order of the district court.2 Such rights are limited to those conferred by statute.3 A grandparent may not be awarded court ordered visitation with a grandchild without meeting the statutory requirements laid out in 43 O.S. §109.4.
A step-grandparent cannot win visitation under Oklahoma visitation statutes.4 However, a step-grandparent may win guardianship if they can demonstrate the parent is unfit.
In doing this, the parent who wants their own parent to see the child should present evidence in favor of the grandparent visitation in addition to the evidence for their own custody. If setting up this bootstrap method of grandparent visitation, it is beneficial to have the grandparent testify during the parental custody hearing even if they are only testifying regarding their past visitation and relationship with the grandchild and not the merits of a divorce or custody. An attorney trying to take this approach should prepare for objections to portions of the testimony of the grandparent as being relevant to the parent’s custody issue but enough should be admissible to be successful. This type of planning will often result in a successful parent’s custody order to allow the grandparent to visit the child during the custodial parent’s normal visitation. This creates a “backdoor” way for the grandparents to see the grandchild without having to file their own petition to get a separate order.
However, it must be remembered that in taking this approach, a grandparent’s rights to visitation are not co-equal with that of the parent.10 Furthermore, this approach requires the cooperation of their own child to allow visitation as the grandparent is only benefitting from their own child’s custody right to the child. This method will also only work if the parent wins custody of the child.
The second prong of the statute is usually the most troublesome for grandparents attempting to receive visitation. A grandparent may attempt to try to achieve visitation by demonstrating in court that a parent is unfit.19 “Absent unfitness shown by clear and convincing evidence, the best interests of the child are presumed to be with the parent.”20 This is a high burden on the grandparents and in many situations a guardianship may be a better cause of action if a parent can be shown to be unfit.
If a grandparent cannot demonstrate that a parent is unfit, they may still meet the second prong by demonstrating the child would suffer harm if they did not see the grandparent. Case law on this issue is very limited. To overcome the presumption that a fit parent knows the best interest of the child, a grandparent will likely need an expert witness familiar with the case or other strong evidence to present at trial to win visitation if appealed.
The petition must be filed in the district court where an ongoing proceeding involving the child is already filed.26 If there is not an existing case involving the child, the petition may be filed in the district where the grandchild or parent resides.27 Notice must be given to the person who has custody of the child.28 Normally, this is a parent, but this also applies to the state or other person if the court has given custody to someone other than a parent through a previous order.
As you can see, the court will consider and weigh many factors in determining whether grandparents should have court order visitation with a grandchild.
Prior to trial, a grandparent should plan on how to attack the second prong of the statute by either demonstrating that the parent is unfit, or that even though the parent is fit the child would suffer harm without the visitation.
To be successful in winning visitation, a grandparent should gather hard evidence of an existing relationship between the grandparent and the grandchild. This can consist of home video, photos or witnesses that show the child had a strong relationship with the grandparent before visitation became an issue. If the grandparent ever had custody of the child, proof of doctor visits, school records or other documents that show strong evidence that the grandparent has been present for the child’s life carry large amounts of weight.
A grandparent filing for visitation should note that any transportation costs or other costs arising from any visitations granted by the court are to be paid by the grandparent.31 Because of this statutory cost, it may be good to show the court how the grandparent is proposing to cover the added financial burden along with the proposed visitation schedule.
Since the court focuses on the best interest of the child, it is more important to show that the child needs a relationship with the grandparent than it is to show the grandparent just wants a relationship with the child. A grandparent should also be advised that the court is going to care more about the grandparent looking moral more so than the parent looking bad. Unless a grandparent can show the parent is unfit, evidence of the parent making decisions differently than that of the grandparent in the way the child is being raised are usually irrelevant to this type of hearing.
Unlike most hearings on motions, at the initial hearing, the court shall direct mediation and set a hearing date for the merits of the motion in the event mediation is unsuccessful.34 After mediation, the mediator shall submit to the court the outcome of the mediation. Upon receipt of the record of mediation termination, the court shall enter an order in accordance with the parties’ agreement, if any.35 If a mediation agreement is not reached, the court will conduct its hearing on the merits on the previously scheduled date.
If a grandparent can demonstrate a parent is unfit, a guardianship may also be an option that a grandparent should consider before filing for visitation rights. If a parent cannot be shown to be unfit to the court, the most important factors in obtaining grandparental visitation is to show that it is in the child’s best interest and that the child may be harmed if a pre-existing relationship between the grandparent and grandchild does not continue.
Chase McBride is a partner at Ritchie, Rock & McBride Law Firm located in Pryor. Mr. McBride has a J.D. and MBA along with a Certificate in Law and Entrepreneurship from the OU College of Law. He is currently serving as president of the Mayes County Bar Association.
1. Troxel v. Granville, 527 U.S. 1069.
3. Murrell v. Cox, 2009 OK 93, ¶25, 226 P.3d 692, 698.
4. In the Matter of the Guardianship of H.E.W., 2004 OK CIV APP 19.
7. Birtciel v. Jones, 2016 OK 103.
8. Sicking v. Sicking, 2000 OK CIV App 32.
9. Sicking v. Sicking, 2000 OK CIV App 32 at ¶14.
10. Murrell v. Cox, 2009 OK 93, ¶25, 226 P.3d 692, 698 (citing McGuire v. Morrison, 1998 OK CIV APP 128, ¶9, 964 P.2d 966, 969).
14. Birtciel v. Jones, 2016 OK 103 at 17.
20. In the Matter of Guardianship of M.R.S., 1998 OK 38, ¶21.
21. In re the Matter of E.G.B., Oklahoma State Court of Civil Appeals, Unpublished Opinion, 2016.
22. In re the Matter of E.G.B., Oklahoma State Court of Civil Appeals, Unpublished Opinion, 2016.
24. Hillhouse v. Fitzpatrick, 2013 OK CIV APP 36.
25. Hillhouse v. Fitzpatrick, 2013 OK CIV APP 36 at ¶12.
29. Craig v. Craig, 2011 OK 27 at ¶25.
30. In the Matter of the Application of Herbst, 1998 OK 100 at ¶16.

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