Ohio’s 6th District Appellate Court upheld paternal grandparents’ rights to visitation following the death of their son (the children’s father) in Wentz v. Wideman, 2021-Ohio-2257 (Ohio 6th Dist. Ct. App. 2021).
Among other things, the Court found that the death of a parent is a “disruptive event” which may precipitate the triggering of grandparents’ legal right to seek and obtain a visitation order. The 6th District also found that the statute allowing visitation was constitutional based on the State’s compelling interest in maintaining the grandparent-grandchild relationship.
Frasor Ireland LLP assisted the grandparents to a successful result at the trial court level and on the appeal.
For a link to the appellate court’s opinion, see below:
https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/6/2021/2021-Ohio-2257.pdf