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Parent is Child's only living legal parent. Parent is employed, provides safe housing, and has never been found unfit. Grandparents cared for Child for six months while Parent recovered from surgery. Parent then resumed full care of Child and allowed monthly visits. Grandparents want weekend visitation twice each month and also filed a petition asking to adopt Child if Parent will not agree to that schedule.
The state third-party visitation statute says a court may award visitation whenever visitation would be in the child's best interests. Grandparents argue that their relationship is strong and that more time would benefit Child. Parent argues that a fit parent's decision must receive special weight and that adoption cannot proceed without consent or termination of Parent's rights.
Discuss Grandparents' visitation and adoption arguments and Parent's constitutional and statutory objections.