In certain scenarios, California does recognize grandparents’ rights to visitation. However, the court must first determine that there’s a pre-existing bond between the grandchild and grandparent, and that the visitation is in the child’s best interest. Some instances where the court ill consider granting grandparent visitation rights include:
- When a parent has died
- When a stepparent adopts a grandchild
- When married parents are living separately or meet certain other requirements
It is important to note that the court will only grant these rights if it is in the best interest of the child and not disruptive to the parental rights. As this is a nuanced area of family law, having seasoned legal representation is essential. Reach out to Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell, LLP for guidance on grandparents’ rights.
