Legal Question in Family Law in Oregon

Re: grandparents rigths

The issue really is not "grandparent rights." Rather the real issue is the rights of a non-parent in relation to the rights of a parent when it comes to the non-parent's access to the child (for visitation and/or custody).

Generally, parents have a right to make decisions regarding access to their children by non-parent adults (whether such access is sought by a grandparent, aunt, uncle, next door neighbor, etc.), and judges will generally not overrule the decision made by a parent. But under certain limited circumstances, the court might do so.

For a full discussion of the rights of non-parents to invoke the power of the court to compel a parent to allow access to a child by a non-parent (such as a grandparent), read the following case from the Oregon Supreme Court:

O'Donnell-Lamont vs. O'Donnell.

http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/S50551.htm

LDG