Yes. In Michigan, parents have a right to control who sees their children and can deny grandparent visitation in most cases
It can be heartbreaking for a grandparent to be denied visitation with their grandchild. In some cases, the child’s parent may be preventing the grandparent from seeing the child, while in others, the grandparent may not have legal visitation rights.
Parental rights in Michigan are substantial. Parents have the legal right to control who sees their children. A parent can deny grandparents visitation. In some situations, however, grandparents sue to have a certain amount of grandparenting time. This is not an option for other extended family members.
Michigan state laws provide the procedures for securing grandparents visitation. A Court can grant grandparents visitation upon filing a complaint or motion in the appropriate court. A parenting time schedule for the grandparents can be ordered.
This article will explore the laws surrounding grandparent visitation in Michigan and answer the question: can a parent deny a grandparent visitation?
Table of Contents
- Yes. In Michigan, parents have a right to control who sees their children and can deny grandparent visitation in most cases
- What are the visitation rights of grandparents in Michigan vis-à-vis their grandchildren?
- Has the grandchild’s parent died?
- Are the child’s parents in a divorce, separation, or annulment proceeding?
- When the grandchild’s parentage has been established, and the grandchild’s parents are not married or living together in the same household, grandparents can motion for grandparent rights
- Also, in case the grandchild’s parent does not have “legal custody,” or if the grandchild has been removed from the parent’s house
- What if one or both parents object to visitation by the grandparents?
- Are other legal remedies available to grandparents seeking grandparent visitation rights with their grandchildren in Michigan courts?
- How can a family law attorney help grandparents protect their relationship with their grandchildren in Michigan courts?
- Talk to a grandparents rights attorney today!

What are Michigan grandparent rights to visitation?
In Michigan, grandparents do not have an automatic right to visitation with their grandchildren. A child’s parent has the right to control who sees their children. The court respects parents rules and preferences.
However, if the child’s parents are divorced, separated, or unmarried, the grandparents may petition the court for visitation rights. The court will only grant visitation rights if it is in the child’s best interests. The court will always look at the child’s well-being.
For example, if the grandparent has a close relationship with the child and visitation would benefit the child’s development, the court is more likely to grant visitation rights. If the child’s parents prevent the grandparent from seeing the child, however, visitation may be more challenging to obtain.
In such cases, it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney who can help you navigate the legal process and advocate for your visitation rights. Grandparents rights are a complicated area of the law.

What are the visitation rights of grandparents in Michigan vis-à-vis their grandchildren?
The grandparent-grandchild relationship is cherished by many. Unfortunately, there are times when this relationship is strained due to the parent’s wishes. In Michigan, grandparents do have some legal rights when it comes to visitation with their grandchildren.
The first thing to understand is that grandparent visitation is not a right guaranteed in most states. However, many states have enacted their laws regarding grandparent visitation. Michigan is one of these states.
Under Michigan law, a grandparent may petition the court for visitation with their grandchild. These are common factors that can result in grandparent visitation being ordered by the court:
Has the grandchild’s parent died?
Visiting rights may be granted to the grandparents of a deceased parent’s child, depending on the state where the grandparent lives. In Michigan, if the grandchild’s parent has died, the grandparent may petition the court for visitation.
If the grandchild’s parent is deceased and visitation is granted, the grandparents have the right to see their grandchild regularly. The court sets this visitation schedule and usually includes time for holidays, weekends, and vacations.
In some cases, visitation may also be granted if the grandparents live out of state. If you are a grandparent who has lost a child and want to see your grandchild regularly, you must speak with an attorney about your visitation rights.

Are the child’s parents in a divorce, separation, or annulment proceeding?
For a grandparent to file for visitation, the grandchild’s parents must have filed for divorce, legal separation, or annulment in a Michigan court. The grandparent must also prove their relationship with the grandchild and that visitation would be in the child’s best interest.
The court will consider several factors when making its decision, including the preference of the child, the mental and physical health of the parties involved, and the geographical distance between the homes of the grandparents and parents.
If you are a grandparent seeking visitation rights, it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney who can help you navigate Michigan’s complex legal landscape.
When the grandchild’s parentage has been established, and the grandchild’s parents are not married or living together in the same household, grandparents can motion for grandparent rights
In the case of a grandchild whose paternity has been established and whose parents have never married or are not living together in the same household, the grandparents may petition the court for visitation rights. The grandparent must prove that they have a relationship with the grandchild and that visitation would be in the child’s best interest.
If the court finds that it is in the child’s best interests, they may grant visitation rights to the grandparents. However, the visitation schedule will be at the court’s discretion, typically based on the grandparents’ availability and the child’s needs.
In addition, the visitation schedule may be modified as the child ages or circumstances change. If you are a grandparent seeking visitation rights, it is essential to consult with an experienced attorney who can help you motion for grandparent rights.

Also, in case the grandchild’s parent does not have “legal custody,” or if the grandchild has been removed from the parent’s house
In some cases, the grandchild’s parent may not have legal custody, or the grandchild may have been removed from the parent’s home. In these cases, the grandparent may still be able to obtain child visitation rights.
However, visitation rights are not guaranteed, and a court will only grant them if it is in the child’s best interests. The court will consider various factors, such as the relationship between the grandparent and child, the child’s needs, and the parenting abilities of the grandparent.
If visitation rights are granted, they can typically be revoked if the parent demonstrates that they are not in the child’s best interests. Therefore, grandparents should always consult with an attorney before assuming that they will be able to visit their grandchildren.
If the court finds one or more of these situations, it may grant grandparent visitation rights. Of course, the parents still have a say in the matter, and the court will always consider their wishes. However, the court will also consider the child’s best interests when deciding grandparent visitation.
It should be noted that grandparent visitation is not an absolute right. The court has discretion in deciding whether or not to grant grandparent visitation.
Additionally, the grandparent visitation rights are not necessarily permanent. The court may modify or terminate grandparent visitation if it finds that it is no longer in the child’s best interests.
If you are a grandparent seeking visitation time with your grandchild, you must consult an experienced family law attorney to discuss your legal options. An attorney can help you navigate the grandparent visitation process and ensure that your rights are protected.
What if one or both parents object to visitation by the grandparents?
Parents have a lot of say in who sees their children. This can include grandparents. If a parent objects to grandparent visitation, it may be up to the grandparent to take legal action.
There are a few ways that grandparents can get around this obstacle. One way is to petition the court for grandparent visitation rights. The court will then look at the child’s best interest when deciding.
If you are a grandparent being denied visitation, it is important to know your legal rights. You may need to take action to see your grandchildren. An experienced family law attorney can help you understand your options and make the best decision for your family.
Are other legal remedies available to grandparents seeking grandparent visitation rights with their grandchildren in Michigan courts?
The grandparent must file a petition with the court and show that there is a preexisting relationship between the grandparent and grandchild and that it is in the child’s best interest to have visitation with the grandparent. The court will likely grant visitation rights if the grandparent can prove these things.
However, the court may deny visitation if the parent can show that granting visitation would be detrimental to the child.
In any case, it is always best to work out an agreement between the grandparents and parents beforehand so that everyone understands what is going on and there are no hard feelings.
Grandparents should also remember that they must respect their children’s wishes and not try to force themselves into their lives if they are not wanted.

How can a family law attorney help grandparents protect their relationship with their grandchildren in Michigan courts?
An attorney can help grandparents by:
- Filing a complaint or motion for grandparent visitation rights
- Arguing the grandparent’s case in court
- Helping to negotiate an agreement between the grandparents and parents
- Advising the grandparent on their legal rights
If you are a grandparent seeking visitation with your grandchild, you should consult an experienced family law attorney to discuss your legal options. An attorney can help you navigate the grandparent visitation process and ensure that your rights are protected.
Talk to a grandparents rights attorney today!
Can a parent deny a grandparent visitation? Yes, but talk to an experienced grandparents visitation lawyer today. The Bruce Law Firm has attorneys that can get you the grandparenting time you deserve.
If you are a grandparent seeking visitation with your grandchild, you should consult an experienced family law attorney. An attorney can help you navigate the grandparent visitation process and ensure that your rights are protected. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.