As many Missouri residents know, child-related legal matters can be very difficult and stressful. Specifically, issues surrounding custody and visitation can divide an entire family. In recent news, the Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from grandparents who wanted a court order to visit with their grandchildren.

According to reports, the grandparents and the parents initially had a solid relationship. The grandparents participated in the lives of two granddaughters, who were born in 1996 and 1997. Nevertheless, the failure of a family business caused a strain on the family. The family sought counseling; however, the parents ultimately ended all contact between the grandparents and grandchildren. A court ruled in favor of visitation rights for the grandparents in 2008; however, the state appeals court and state Supreme Court advocated the parents' rejection of visitation.

The main issue of the case centered on the standard judges should apply in deciding whether to grant visitation rights to grandparents. In some states, grandparents must show the parents are unfit for parenting. However, other states require a more lenient standard; the grandparents must only show that visits would be in the grandchildren's best interests.

Visitation and custody laws can be extremely complex. Furthermore, the result of these legal decisions can severely impact a child's life. However, every state encompasses varying laws regarding child-related legal matters. For this reason, if you are confronting a family issue, you may want to speak to a knowledgeable attorney. He or she can guide you on the relevant and appropriate laws.

Source: Chicago Tribune, "US top court won't hear grandparents visitation case," James Vicini, Feb. 21, 2012