The purpose of this research was to examine mostly state supreme and appellant court cases from across the country that were brought under state grandparent visitation right statutes. We systematically analyzed justices' legal reasoning in 67 cases that favored parents. Themes derived from the data explained why parental rights superceded the rights of grandparents. Grandparent visitation that unfairly intruded on parental rights and failed to serve the best interest of the child were two themes that explained justices' legal reasoning. That grandparents failed to follow legal requirements including those in state grandparent visitation statutes was the predominate theme that explained how justices protected parental rights over that of grandparents.
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