Grandparents' rights in Florida

"My grandchildren live in Florida and I'd like to know what visitation rights I have with them?"

The answer is simple and saddening: none.

But, you say, you've seen the Florida law on the books that says that grandparents have rights in Florida.

You're correct, there is such a law on the books, but, unfortunately, the Florida supreme court has said that the law is null and void, or, as we lawyers would say, unenforceable. The reasoning is: giving grandparents rights would interfere with the rights of the parents. Only the parents should decide whether the grandparents have any rights. Or, at least that's how the argument goes. The United States Supreme Court has generally agreed, at least for now.

I'm told that the law is different in other states, but, in Florida, at least for now, grandparents' rights are at the mercy of the parents, such as that mercy may be.