At the Law Office of Kristen L. Campbell, LLC, in Ohio, we know that as a grandparent, you have very few rights under Ohio law. We also know, however, that this does not mean that it is impossible for you to preserve your grandparent-grandchild relationships or for you to file an action seeking visitation in your grandchild’s best interests.
As the Ohio Legislature explains, an Ohio court can grant grandparent visitation in three situations. These are when a child’s married parents separate or terminate their marriage, when one of the child’s parents dies, or when the child’s mother is unmarried.
Factors the court must consider
Before granting you visitation with your grandchild, the court is required to consider a number of factors, including the following:
- What are the wishes of your grandchild’s parent(s)?
- What prior interactions and relationships has your grandchild had with his or her parents and other relatives?
- How far away from your grandchild’s residence is your residence?
- How old is your grandchild and, assuming the court has interviewed him or her, what are his/her wishes?
- How much time does your grandchild have available to spend with his or her siblings and how much available time does your grandchild and his or her parent(s) have to devote to grandparent visitation?
- Have you ever been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a child abuse or neglect offense?
In addition, the court also must consider your grandchild’s adjustment to his or her home, school and community, his or her health and safety, and the physical and mental health of all additional parties. For more information on this subject, please visit this page on our website.
