Criteria for Grant of Visitation to Grandparent When Both Parents Alive

In affirming the grant of visitation to a grandparent (where both parents are living), the Third Department, in a decision by Justice Egan, wrote:

Where a grandparent seeks visitation and, as is the case here, both of the child’s parents are living, Family Court first must ascertain whether “conditions exist which equity would see fit to intervene” (Domestic Relations Law § 72 [1]) in order to confer standing … . “An essential part of the standing inquiry is the nature and extent of the existing grandparent-grandchild relationship . . . [as well as] the basis for the parents’ objection to visitation” ….  Should Family Court determine that the grandparent has standing to seek visitation, the question then becomes whether such visitation is in the child’s best interests …. Inasmuch as Family Court had the advantage of assessing the witnesses’ testimony and demeanor firsthand, its credibility determination “should not be set aside if it is supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record” …. Matter of Laudadio, 514069, 3rd Dept 3-28-13