Do you believe that grandparents should have rights for visitation?

This is a good idea! I was never really close to any of my grandparents because of my parents not having a very good relationship with THEIR parents, and it's kind of sad.

No. I know this is a very very old discussion but I don't think anybody should ever have 'rights' for visitation other than a child's biological parents - or in the event one or both of them have been found unable to provide safe care and guardianship, someone who has been appointed guardian of the child, whether they are a relative, a godparent, or otherwise. This is why it is so important for parents to name somebody who they want to care for their minor children if/when something happens to them. Otherwise, there can be too many problems and the kids get shuttled around to all sorts of people the parents may NEVER have wanted influencing their children, much less CARING for them or RAISING them! When a divorce occurs, why do you feel you still deserve access to everybody? i don't feel that is a fair expectation. In a perfect world, of course people will consider the children's feelings and realize that it's not the grandparents' fault, but look at how some grandparents behave! They get angry, tell their kids or kids-in-law that they will see the kids no matter what! No wonder the kids tell them no - having that attitude is the quickest way to get shut out permanently.

I do think they should have rights and here they do. You have to go to court, but you can get them.

Yes, I do believe that grandparents should have rights for visitation, unless it can really be proven that their visits will cause psychological and/or physical damage to the children. For reasons which need not be discussed here, I am not close to my parents-in-law. But I have never prevented them or my children from seeing each other. They are close blood relations. Any misunderstandings should be kept aside for family's sake. Without them my offspring would have been different. all the best in your family ties, rosdimy

By all means, grandparents should have visiting rights. Unless, of course, it can me proved that they are harming the grandchildren. If the law shuts out the granparents from a child´s life, it´s doing a greater harm that the good made. A child should have a family. And that includes, a lot of people: that makes a nurturing nest that will help him overcome the many sorrows of life.