What are my rights as a grandparent?

Grandparents often share a very special bond with their grandchildren, but Colorado law does not automatically provide visitation rights for grandparents who’s grandchildren who’s parents have gone through divorce or separation.

Under state law, a grandparent can ask a family law court for reasonable grandchild visitation rights in the following situations if the grandchild’s parents have obtained a divorce; the child is in custody of someone other than a parent; or if the child's parent, who is the child of the grandparent seeking visitation, has died.

The family law court is under no obligation to issue visitation, but may do so if it thinks visitation is in the best interest of the grandchild.

If visitation is granted, it is subject to the same rules and modifications that parental visitation is.

And note that state law terminates grandparent rights and visitation if the grandchild is adopted, or if the parental rights of the child's parent who is the child of the grandparent are terminated.