After a divorce, if a couple in Kentucky has children, they will need to make child custody arrangements. Oftentimes parents stay true to these arrangements. However, there are times when one parent keeps a child from visiting their ex's parents - the child's grandparents. Many grandparents adore their grandchildren and relish the opportunity to be with them as they learn and grow. Having a special relationship with grandparents can also benefit the child. In recognition of this, Kentucky statutes address the issue of grandparent visitation.
Under Kentucky statutes, the court can award either the maternal or paternal grandparents of a child reasonable visitation rights, and can enforce such a decree if it is in the child's best interests. Also, once visitation rights have been established, they cannot be taken away if the parental rights of the child's mother or father have been terminated, unless doing so would be in the child's best interests.
In addition, grandparents may be awarded noncustodial parental rights to visitation of their grandchild if that grandparent's daughter or son dies, and the grandparent takes on the child support obligations of the deceased parent, unless doing so would not be in the child's best interests. If the grandparent is denied visitation rights in these circumstances, they will not longer be responsible for the financial support of the child.
Grandparents deserve to have a loving and fulfilling relationship with their grandchildren, and children can often benefit from having a good support system in place both during and after a divorce. Grandparent visitation time can be key in developing this support system. Grandparents who wish to seek visitation can benefit from understanding all of their legal rights to do so.