Kentucky Supreme Court Rules on Grandparent Visitation Rights

Enlarge image

Credit historicproperties.ky.gov

The Kentucky Supreme Court has given more weight to a parent’s opinion than a grandparent’s opinion in child visitation cases. The court ruled today that if parents oppose allowing grandparents to visit their grandchildren, they must be presumed to be acting in the child's best interests. The Courier-Journal reports the ruling does not strike down Kentucky's 1984 grandparent visitation law.

However, it does require grandparents show clear and convincing evidence that contact is in the interest of the child. The court ordered a new hearing in a Jefferson Family Court case that prompted the ruling. That case gave Donna Blair the right to visit her grandson over his mother’s objection.