Petition: Reform Indiana’s Grandparent Visitation Law to Protect Families

Indiana’s current Grandparent Visitation law is outdated and is hurting real families — especially families formed through step-parent adoption.

Right now, grandparents can be granted court-ordered visitation over the objections of fit, loving parents, as long as they meet basic “standing” requirements and a judge decides it’s in the “best interest” of the child. This contradicts the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Troxel v. Granville, which says a fit parent’s decision must be given significant weight.

WHY THE LAW MUST CHANGE

1. Adoption should create a stable, intact family.

Just like children born out of wedlock become legitimate once the parents marry, adoption should also create a complete and unified family unit. Grandparent visitation that survives a step-parent adoption undermines this unity and imposes unequal rules on children within the same home.

2. This is happening right now to real families.

In one home, 1 out of 4 biological grandchildren living together are forced into court-ordered visits — even though fit parents and the child object.

Across the extended family, 1 out of 6 biological grandchildren of that same parent have been forced into visitation through the courts.

These numbers show a clear pattern: the law is dividing families instead of protecting them.

3. Fit parents’ decisions are overridden with almost no evidence.

If parents are divorced or a child was born out of wedlock, grandparents can still force visitation — even when both parents agree that stopping visits is best for the child.

4. "Best interest” is too broad and gives judges almost unlimited discretion.

Grandparents only need standing and a judge’s opinion to override parents’ choices, even when the child is distressed, the family is unified, and there is no evidence of harm without visitation.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING

We urge Indiana lawmakers to revise the Grandparent Visitation statute so that:

1. Fit parents’ decisions are respected and presumed correct.

2. Step-parent adoptions are treated the same way as marriage in legitimizing children — forming one complete family unit.

3. Third parties cannot interfere over the objection of the parents unless the parents have previously been found unfit, the third party has had prior legal custody or guardianship, or in the death of a parent where a current ongoing grandparent relationship was held.

4. All children in the same home — biological and adopted — are treated equally and protected from court-mandated division.

Families deserve stability. Parents deserve the right to raise their children without unnecessary interference. Children deserve a home where adoption truly means unity, not forced separation.

Please sign to support reforming Indiana’s Grandparent Visitation law and protecting the rights of families against the weaponizing of the court system in settling family disputes.