In the past, grandparents and other relatives were often disregarded in the child custody process. Even though grandparents often have a very strong emotional bond with their grandchildren, they were overlooked from a legal standpoint and often suffered as a result of lingering enmity on the part of the non-related parent in the aftermath of a divorce. Today, however, the situation has shifted. In many states, special custody laws have now been enacted to help protect the rights of grandparents in custody cases. In most jurisdictions, grandparents have the right to request visitation with the child, although the visitation periods that are awarded to grandparents may be brief and may be subject to supervision by a court-approved monitor. In addition, if evidence can be produced that visitation with the grandparents may not be in the best interests of the child, the court may be reluctant to award any visitation rights. If you have questions about grandparent visitation law in your area, contact a court representative or an experienced family law attorney.