Divorce Law

Virginia Grandparents Visitation Rights

Parents aren't the only people whose rights must be considered when it comes to child custody and visitation in Virginia. Grandparents often play a significant role in the child's history - and severing all ties with the grandparents is usually not in anyone's best interests.

The Virginia courts have recognized this, and the Virginia laws allow for a "grandparent visitation" statute. Virginia Grandparents and sometimes others (foster parents and stepparents, for example) can ask a court to grant them the legal right to maintain their relationships with their grandchildren or former charges.

Virginia law allows courts to consider a visitation request even without the death of a parent or the dissolution of the family, so long as visitation would serve the best interests of the child.

But please be aware, the Virginia courts do give great deference to a parent's decision to limit grandparent visitation. It's best to be fair. After all, it usually wasn't the grandparent's fault you and your spouse couldn't make the marriage work. Your children shouldn't have to be burdened with the loss of their grandparents along with all the other traumas of divorce .