Grandparents have rights, in some circumstances, to be awarded grandparenting time with their grandchildren. Recognition of grandparents’ rights is a fairly recent trend. Grandparents, step-parents, and other caretakers often form deep, bonded and meaningful relationships with the children in their lives. Yet when death, divorce, or estrangement tears families apart, these important people in a child’s life may find themselves excluded. Grandparent and third-party visitation and custody are unique areas of law with esoteric rules and out-of-court nuances that require special care.

Recent appellate decisions in cases like Chapman v. Hopkins and Friedman v. Roels have changed the landscape of grandparent and third-party visitation law in Arizona. This area of law is among the most rapidly developing in Title 25 matters.