According to a recent article in USA Today, an increasing number of grandparents in the United States are urging their lawmakers to change state laws, which they claim do not give grandparents enough freedom to spend time with their grandchildren.

Each state is required to meet minimal constitutional standards, but there is quite a variety of nuances regarding grandparents' visitation rights. This winter, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to address the issue of grandparent's visitation rights. That issue was previously addressed in a 2000 case.

All 50 states have laws regarding the conditions under which non-parents may seek visitation, but in 2000 the Supreme Court determined that state laws cannot violate the rights of competent parents, including the parents' right to determine who can spend time with their children.

The case which the Supreme Court is expected to address involves an Alabama law which placed grandparent visitation rights over competent parents' objections.

Courts may order non-parent visitation only under very specific circumstances which are in the child's best interest. On this matter, the various state laws vary widely. Laws also vary in different situations, including two-parent families sued by grandparents, contentious divorces and remarriages, and disputes with a parent after another dies.

Among the most parent-friendly states are Connecticut, Florida and Arizona. Grandparent-friendly states include Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma. Missouri is generally considered more parent-friendly.

Some parents face difficulties if they reside in a state that places their rights at risk. From another perspective, grandparents who live in parent-friendly states may not have the opportunity to bond with their grandchildren.

Source: USA Today, "State's grandparent visitation laws raise concern," Alan T. Warren, November 7, 2011.