Grandparent Rights In Arizona

If you are a grandparent and feel that you have unreasonably been denied visitation with a grandchild, or if you desire custody of a grandchild, you may be entitled to such visitation or custody. Similarly, if you are a parent who believes that one of your child's grandparent's has (or is attempting to) overstepped your parental rights, you have recourse.

NRG attorneys are extremely adept at dealing with these issues, and take special care to educate and empower our clients as participants in the process.

Arizona law, i.e., A.R.S. Section 25-409, enacted in 1992, affords grandparents and great-grandparents visitation rights with their grandchildren in certain circumstances. Under this statute grandparents or great-grandparents may be granted visitation rights with their grandchildren if (1) the marriage of the child's parents has been dissolved for at least three months; (2) the parent has been deceased or missing for at least three months, or (3) the child was born out of wedlock. A 2003 amendment to A.R.S. § 25-409 authorizes grandparents and great-grandparents to request visitation rights during a maternity/paternity proceeding as well.

As in all cases concerning children, the best interest of the child controls, and the grandparents or great-grandparents will not be granted visitation if the court finds that such visitation is not in the best interests of the child.