Michigan Grandparent Visitation

A new law in Michigan (effective immediately) provides the opportunity to seek grandparenting time if:

the grandchilds parents are divorced, or are in the process of divorce, separation, or annulment.

the grandchilds parent is deceased and is the son/daughter of the grandparent.

the grandchilds parents have never been married, are not cohabitating, and the fathers paternity has been established.

the child is placed outside the home or legal custody of the child has been given to someone other than a parent (unless the child was adopted by someone other than a stepparent).

within the year prior to seeking grandparenting time, the grandparent provided an established custodial environment for the grandchild.

This law does provide for the parents of an unwed father to have access to visitation. However, I still find it ironic that with the difficulties fathers have in getting and enforcing visitation, laws are being written to protect grandparents. Also, shouldn't the divorce and the parents schedules with the child be hammered out BEFORE we let the grandparents petition for their visitation?

WNDU

Grandparent Visitation

Sorry I have been so lax posting this week, I have been extremely busy and continue to be so probably the next couple posts will just be news.

In Pennsylvania a set of maternal grandparents have sued the father (and custodial parent) of their three grandchildren. Apparently the mother is living out of state and has or is having issues with drug addiction. The grandparents are suing to either have access to the children from 10a to 8p on Sat or 11a to 8p on Sunday - EVERY WEEKEND!! The father maintains that the weekend is his primary time to share with his children as he works during the week.

In my opinion, an entire day every weekend is asking quite a bit. Not just because the father will lose out on this time, it will surely put a lot of stain on the children's extracurricular activities, athletics and play time with friends if they are court ordered to spend an entire weekend day with their Grandparents each weekend.

However, it does seem as though a compromise could be made. If I was the father I would propose 4 hours or so every other Sunday, or something like that. Maybe time after school a day a week... I don't know but it seems like there is room for some type of happy medium here.

Read the article at the Times Leader.

Grandparents in Hawaii

A judge has declared unconstitutional the Hawaiian law of allowing grandparents to petition for visitation. Honolulu Advertiser