Nevada law on grandparents' visiting rights not yet in jeopardy

CARSON CITY - The state elder rights advocate and a state legislator doubt Nevada's grandparents' visitation law will be jeopardized by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision throwing out a similar law in Washington state.

''I think our law will be subject to challenge, but I believe it is in a better position than the Washington law,'' said Betsy Kolkoski, the elder rights advocate. ''But I know there will be litigation. This is something that won't go away.''

Unlike Washington's broad visitation law, Assemblywoman Merle Berman, R-Las Vegas, said the Nevada law only guarantees visitation to grandparents with an existing meaningful relationship with their grandchildren.

Nevada has had various laws since 1979 that allow visitation rights to grandparents and stepparents. Berman won approval of amendments to the law in 1999.

Her amendments guarantee visitation for grandparents who have ''had contact'' with their grandchildren. Some have paid for their care, served as baby sitters and spent time with their grandchildren, Berman said.

But too often Berman said that upon divorce, one of the parents moves away with the children. If the parent remarries or finds a new partner, then sometimes that person wants the children to have no contact with the grandparents, she added.