Lois Smith and Cecil Smith, v. Bethel Marie (Smith) Schneider, v. Roger Allen Smith

The petition was filed in accordance with T.C.A. § 36-6-301 which states: Grandparents’ visitation rights. -- (a) The natural or legal grandparents of an unmarried minor child may be granted reasonable visitation rights to the child during such child’s minority by a court of competent jurisdiction upon a finding that such visitation rights would be in the best interests of the minor child. Lois Smith and Cecil Smith appeal from the trial court’s denial of their petition seeking visitation rights with their grandson, Jonathon Allen Smith, pursuant to T.C.A. § 36-6-301.1 The appellants are the parents of Roger Allen Smith whose marriage to Bethel Marie Smith (now Schneider) ended in divorce in April 1990. Jonathon Allen Smith was born to that marriage and was age 7 at the time of the hearing which is the subject of this appeal. Custody of Jonathon was awarded to his mother.