My four-year-old grandson, my world, my life, my purpose in life, and my favorite little human...our relationship has been a special and beautiful one since the moment he was born. As a grandparent in Florida, the law severely limits my rights and ability to maintain a meaningful relationship with him in the face of family adversity. This not only affects me but countless grandparents across the state and nation who wish to positively contribute to the upbringing of their grandchildren.

In Florida, grandparents' rights to visitation are alarmingly limited.  The current law allows visitation only in extreme cases such as if both parents are deceased, missing, or in a vegetative state.  This narrow scope ignores the fundamental right of children to benefit from the love and support of their grandparents ---- a right that should be inherently protected except where there is clear and compelling evidence of harm due to issues such as drugs or abuse. 

To use a child to hurt a parent should be considered a form of emotional mental abuse, by law.  No child deserves to be used; to hurt anyone.  In today's world, our children are growing up and taking advantage of the authority, they are given when becoming parents.  They make it about themselves rather than how it will affect their child in the end.  My daughter grew up with both grandfathers, both grandmothers, and her great-grandmother, so why shouldn't my grandson have the right to have all his family in his life.

Despite the love, stability, and support that grandparents can offer, Florida law provides very limited circumstances under which a grandparent can petition for visitation rights. This has left me, and many others, relying merely on the goodwill of our children to maintain strong bonds with our grandchildren. Such situations can be extremely distressing, causing emotional pain not only for the grandparents but also affecting the grandchildren involved.

In 2020, Florida reported over 4000 restraining orders filed by grandparents seeking visitation, a clear indication of the desperate need for reform. Research consistently shows that active grandparental involvement can bolster a child's emotional and social development, providing them with additional layers of stability and support.

We are calling for immediate amendments to Florida’s legislation to expand the rights of grandparents. By setting a precedent in Florida, we can spark similar changes in other states, ensuring that grandparents across the nation are able to secure their rightful place in their grandchildren's lives.

We propose a task force comprising family law experts, child psychologists, and representatives from the grandparent community to draft a model policy. This policy should account for the best interests of the child while recognizing the valuable role that grandparents play.

This is not just a personal fight but one that champions family unity and the rights of grandchildren to maintain close ties with their grandparents. Support this cause and help us in advocating for a legislative change that can benefit future generations across America. Please sign this petition to help bring about this much-needed change.