Grandparents' Rights
Conclusion
Research is needed to determine who petitions for visitation, what problems lead families to petition for grandparental visitation, and what are the long-term consequences of grandparental litigation on family and child development (i.e., family processes, socioemotional development in children, and family economic well-being). Because U.S. grandparents' rights are based on state statutes, social scientists should address the question of what the legal issues are across states. Additional investigation is needed to determine if Canadian courts will follow U.S. courts' tendency toward guarding the rights of parents over that of grandchildren or grandparents. Regardless of the country, if grandparental visitation is awarded, how courts require grandparents to provide for the care and economic support of their grandchildren remains a viable area of study.
See also: CHILD CUSTODY; DIVORCE: EFFECTS ON PARENTS; ELDERS; FAMILY LAW; FAMILY POLICY; GRANDPARENTHOOD; GUARDIANSHIP; INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONS; REMARRIAGE; SUBSTITUTE CAREGIVERS
Bibliography
Burns, E. M. (1991). "Grandparent Visitation Rights: Is it Time for the Pendulum to Fall?" Family Law Quarterly 25:59–81.
Cox, C. B. (2000). "Why Grandchildren Are Going to and Staying at Grandmother's House and What Happens When They Get There." In To Grandmother's House We Go and Stay, ed. C. B. Cox. New York: Springer.
Foster, H. H., and Freed, D. J. (1984). "The Child's Right to Visit Grandparents: An Emerging Question of Visitation Rights." Trial 18:38–45.
Garner, B. A. (1999). Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition. Eagan, MN: West Group.
Hartfield, B. W. (1996). "Legal Recognition of the Value of Intergenerational Nurturance: Grandparent Visitation Statutes in the Nineties." Generations 20(1):53–56.
Harvard Law Review. (1980). Developments in the Law: The Constitution and the Family. Boston: Author.
Henderson, T. L., and Moran, P. B. (2001). "Grandparent Visitation Rights: Testing the Parameters of Parental Rights." Journal of Family Issues 22:619–638.
Hill, T. J. (2000). "Legally Extending the Family: An Event History Analysis of Grandparent Visitation Rights Law." Journal of Family Issues 21:246–261.
Kruk, E. (1995). "Grandparent-Grandchild Loss: Findings from a Study of 'Grandparent Rights' Members." Canadian Journal on Aging 14:737–754.
Mnookin, R. H., and Weisburg, D. K. (1993). Child, Family, and State: Problems and Materials on Children and Law, 2nd edition. Boston: Little, Brown.
Segal, E. C., and Karp, N. (1989). Grandparent Visitation Disputes: a Legal Resource Manual. Washington DC: American Bar Association.
Walther, D. L. (1997). "Survey of Grandparents Visitation Rights." American Journal of Family Law 11:95–107.
Cases
Brooks et al. v. Parkerson. (1995). 265 Ga. 189; 454 S.E.2d 769. (1995 Ga. LEXIS 157). 95 Fulton County DR P1103. Available from http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
Grandparental Visitation of C. G. F., H. F., T. F. v. T. F. and D. L, In the Matter of the. (1992). 168 Wis. 2d 62; 483 N.W.2d 803. (1992 Wisc. LEXIS 199). Available from http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
Hicks v. Enlow. (1989). Ky., 764 S.W.2d 68.
King v. King. (1992). 929 S. W. 2d 630.
McMain v. Iowa District Court for Polk County. (1997). 559 N.W.2d 12. (1997 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 60). Available from http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
Meyer v. Nebraska.(1923). 262 U.S. 390.
Moore v. the City of East Cleveland. (1977). 431 U.S. 494; 97 S. Ct. 1932. (1977 U.S. LEXIS 17). 52 L. Ed. 2d 531.
Pierce v. the Society of Sisters. (1925). 268 U S. 510; 45 S. Ct. 571; 1925 U.S. LEXIS 589; 69 L. Ed. 1070; 39 A.L.R. 468.
Sparks v. Sparks. (2001). A. C. W. S. J. LEXIS 15624; 2001 A. C. W. S. J. 613317; 106 A. C. W. S. (3d) 278. Available from http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
Stanley v. Illinois. (1972). 405 U.S. 645; 92 S. Ct. 1208; 1972 U.S. LEXIS 70; 31 L. Ed. 2d 551.
Steward v. Steward. (1995). 111 Nev. 259; 890 P.2d 777; 1995 Nev. LEXIS 17. Available from http://web. lexis-nexis.com.
Troxel v. Granville. (2000). 120 S. Ct. 2054 U. S. LEXIS 3767; 147 L. Ed. 2d 49; 68 U. S. L. W. 4458; 2000 Cal. Daily Op. Service 4345; 2000 Daily Journal DAR 5831; 12 Fla. W. Fed. S. 365. Available from http://web. lexis-nexis.com.
Ward v. Ward. (1987). Del. Fam. Ct., 537 A.2d 1063.
Wisconsin v. Yoder. (1972). 406 U.S. 205.
Other Resource
Bohl, J. C. (1996). "The Unprecedented Intrusion: A Survey and Analysis of Selected Grandparent Visitation Cases." Oklahoma Law Review 29:1–18. Available from http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
TAMMY L. HENDERSON
Additional topics
Marriage and Family EncyclopediaRelatives & Extended FamilyGrandparents' Rights - Grandparent Visitation Rights In The United States, Grandparent Visitation Rights In Canada, Conclusion