This course will be an overview of the legal landscape for non-parent rights in family law. It will cover issues that arise when grandparents seek to establish or maintain a relationship with their grandchildren in a divorce or death situation, including:

• Standing requirements: What legal criteria grandparents must meet to petition for visitation or custody, such as when parents are divorced, deceased, or when the child has resided with the grandparent for an extended period of time;

• "Best interests of the child" standard: How courts apply this standard to balance parental rights with the benefits of a grandparent-grandchild relationship;
• Litigation strategies: Techniques for advocating for grandparents' rights, including petitioning the court and addressing jurisdictional challenges;
• Modification and enforcement: Procedures for modifying existing visitation orders and enforcing court-ordered grandparent visitation rights; and
• Alternative dispute resolution: Methods for resolving conflicts outside of court, such as mediation, to help families reach an agreement about grandparent custody and visitation.