Grandparents could ask courts for visitation after 60 days

A grandparent may ask a court for visitation when one of the listed family situations applies and visits have been denied for more than 60 days. The listed situations include a parent’s divorce case; one parent’s death followed by denial of visits by the surviving parent; parents who were never married; or the child living in the grandparent’s home for at least six months during the 24 months before filing. The court may order visits only if it finds they serve the child’s best interests. The court may set reasonable conditions or limits. For these listed grounds, the denial must last more than 60 days before the grandparent seeks relief.

A grandparent may file for visitation after being denied reasonable visits for more than 60 days. This route applies to a grandparent seeking visitation with a child. The grandparent may file after a custody or visitation case has been decided, or file an independent case if no earlier custody or visitation order exists. The court may order visits only if it finds they serve the child’s best interests, and may set conditions or limits. The denial must last more than 60 days before the grandparent files.