When parents divorce or separate, the parent who is not able to live with the children can request visitation rights. Sometimes, other close family members may have a desire to spend time with a minor child.
However, if those family members do not currently have a positive relationship with the parents of the child, they may not be able to maintain that relationship the way they might prefer. In some cases, grandparents who have had a continued, positive relationship with their grandchildren suddenly lose access due to a dispute with one or both of the parents of their grandchildren.
Do grandparents in New Jersey have the right to request visitation if parents do not voluntarily allow them to see their grandchildren?
Grandparent visitation is possible
Some states do not permit anyone other than biological or adoptive parents to request visitation rights. Thankfully, New Jersey has more robust family statutes that truly focus on what is in the best interests of the children in the family.
The bond that a child has with their grandparents can be invaluable, especially if there have been disruptions to their primary family unit. Grandparents denied consensual access to the grandchildren can petition the courts for regular visitation.
So long as a family law judge agrees that granting visitation rights to grandparents is likely in the best interests of the children, grandparents can potentially obtain legally-protected visitation rights. Siblings of minor children have similar legal protections under the law.
Learning more about family law statutes can help grandparents and other concerned parties maintain positive family relationships. Grandparent visitation is possible even in cases where family relationships have soured.