Do Grandparents Have Visitation Rights In Mississippi?

Being a grandparent is an important role, and getting to spend time with one’s grandchildren is such an important part of that relationship. Unfortunately, sometimes parents may try to interfere with that relationship.

Is your child’s ex keeping you from seeing your grandchildren? The state of Mississippi recognizes visitation rights for grandparents. This means there are ways you can get a court order to make sure that you can see your grandchildren.

Dealing with family law issues can be an overwhelming and taxing process. If you’re interested in filing a petition for visitation rights working with an attorney can help. Contact Jason Campbell to learn more about your options for visitation rights.

Do Grandparents Get Visitation Rights in Mississippi

In Mississippi, grandparents have a legal right to petition for reasonable visitation if certain criteria are met:

• Their child hasn’t been given custody of their child(ren), or their parental rights have been terminated
• Their child is deceased
• They previously had a positive relationship with their grandchild(ren), and visitation would be in the child(ren)’s best interest

If any one of these criteria is met, grandparents can file for visitation rights. In a petition for visitation, you should be prepared to include the proposed visitation schedule that you’d like to have put in place.

Suppose you already have a visitation order but would like the change the schedule or are having issues with the visitation schedule, such as a parent refusing visitation. In that case, you can request that the court modify or enforce the visitation schedule.

As grandparent visitation and custody rights are concerned, it’s important to be aware that in the event that both parents of a child are unable to have custody, grandparents receive custodial priority over other non-custodial parents. If third-party custody becomes part of the discussion, it’s good to know your rights as a grandparent.

Parent’s Rights Against Grandparent Visitation

The court's main focus in all custody and visitation proceedings is to act in the best interest of the child(ren) involved. This usually is focused on allowing children to have as many positive relationships with family members as possible.

While the courts tend to favor children's relationships with their families, they also recognize that when it comes to extended family, parents' feelings and opinions are important. When deciding grandparent visitation, what the parents believe is in the best interest of the child(ren) can weigh very heavily on the decision of the court.

Get in Touch With a Family Law Attorney Today

Grandparents do have rights to visitation in Mississippi as long as certain criteria are met and they follow the correct procedures and processes.

When dealing with any custody concerns or family law processes, it’s a good idea to work with an experienced lawyer. Family law attorneys can help guide you through the process and make sure you follow all of the correct steps. 

Campbell Law Firm is a trusted Mississippi law firm that specializes in matters of family law. Contact us today to learn more about how we may be able to help you exercise your visitation rights as a grandparent.