In Re the Marriage of Lisa J. Friedman, Petitioner/appellant, and David C. Roels, Jr., Respondent, Claudia Roels And…

Summary

The court held that when two legal parents disagree about third-party visitation, both parents' opinions receive special weight, but neither parent receives a presumptive advantage. The conflicting opinions are resolved under the statutory best-interests standard, and the family court did not abuse its discretion in finding that grandparent visitation benefited the children. The court also rejected a heightened requirement that grandparents prove substantial harm absent visitation and affirmed the visitation order while vacating the court of appeals' opinion.