The Supreme Court's decision in Troxel is not the final word on grandparents' visitation rights. It's likely that parents will continue to challenge how permissive visitation statutes are applied in each case. Judges in these states will certainly be more careful to take parents' wishes into account when resolving disputes.

What to Do

Grandparents, caretakers, or parents involved in a struggle about visitation can find out more information on their state's current law by researching their state statutes from Nolo's website (search for "grandparent visitation").

	Do I have to force my child to visit his mother if he doesn't want to?

Grandparents who face parental resistance to their contact with beloved grandchildren might consider requesting a mediation session with the children's parents. (In fact, some state courts won't consider your petition for visitation until the parties have attended mediation together.) Mediation means that you hire a neutral third party to help all of you create a legally binding agreement that everyone can respect and live with. For more about mediation and its advantages, see the Mediation FAQ.

Buy it now! Building a Parenting Agreement That Works: How to Put Your Kids First When Your Marriage Doesn't Last by Mimi E. Lyster.

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