District Of Columbia Grandparents Rights
The District of Columbia has no statutory provision for visitation by grandparents.
Like all areas of the U.S., citizens of the District of Columbia are impacted by court decisions such as the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Troxel v. Granville, wherein the Court that stated “the interest of parents in the care, custody and control of their children–is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this Court.” The Supreme Court also made it clear that this fundamental right is implicated in grandparent visitation cases.
The Supreme Court flatly declared that a parent’s fundamental right to the “care, custody and control of their children” was “at issue in this case.” The Supreme Court struck down the Washington visitation statute because it unconstitutionally infringed on that fundamental parental right.
State courts considering non-parent visitation petitions must apply “a presumption that fit parents act in the best interests of their children.” Troxel requires that State courts must give “special weight” to a fit parent’s decision to deny non-parent visitation.
Note: The foregoing information is provided as general child support law guidelines in the District of Columbia and should not be considered as legal advice specific to your case. After reviewing the above material, you will be presented with the opportunity to submit more details specific to your case directly to AboutTheChildren.org
Submitted by Linda O’Marie, Paralegal
About The Children, LLC's Blog 
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