Landmark case
Troxel v. Granville
U.S. Supreme Court · 530 U.S. 57 (2000)
Grandparents took a mother to court so they could see their granddaughters. The mother won.
Brad Troxel died in 1993. His parents wanted to keep seeing his two daughters. Tommie, the girls' mother, was not cutting them off — she just wanted to decide how much and how often. The grandparents sued, and a judge granted them visits anyway. The mother kept appealing all the way to the Supreme Court, and she won. The reason, in plain terms: if you are a good parent, deciding who sees your children is your call. A judge cannot take that decision away from you just because he would make it differently.
What it means for you
If you are a good parent, the law assumes you know what is best for your child. The judge has to take your decision seriously, not brush it aside.
Who it helps
It helps if a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative wants to see your child and you disagree. It does not help if your dispute is with the other parent.
In California
When it is a grandparent asking for visits, the law covers three situations: a parent has died, a divorce is already underway, or the parents live apart.
7 min read · with verbatim quotes from the opinion
