Spending time with grandchildren is a joy that compares to few others. Unfortunately, certain life events can make maintaining a meaningful relationship with grandchildren difficult. When supporting that relationship is in a child’s best interests, it may be worthwhile to explore one’s options for securing grandparent visitation in Kentucky.
Why is grandparent visitation necessary?
Consider a situation in which a grandparent was once meaningfully involved in a grandchild’s life. If the parents were to divorce, the grandchild’s time with his or her grandchild might become limited or even nonexistent. If maintaining a relationship with a grandparent is in the child’s best interests, grandparent visitation to support and nurture that relationship would likely be worthwhile.
What is in a grandchild’s best interests?
Kentucky judges will always carefully consider the best interests of the child when making decisions about visitation and custody. Determining what those best interests are involved considering a wide range of factors. Here are a few things a judge would look at when deciding whether to grant grandparent visitation:
- The child’s emotional and physical health
- The grandparent’s physical ability to meet the needs of the child
- The strength of the grandparent and grandchild’s relationship
- The length of the relationship
- The distance between the grandparent and grandchild
- The wishes of the grandparents and parents
- The wishes of the child
It is not always necessary to head straight to court for grandparent visitation. In some cases, parents and grandparents are able to reach an agreement on their own, often through alternative dispute resolutions like mediation. When this is not possible, it may be necessary to pursue action through the family law court.
