Can a grandparent be awarded visitation by the Court against the wishes the parents?

Like all good legal answers, the answer is maybe.  Tennessee has outlined what is necessary for grandparents to have rights to their grandchildren in the following statute:

 T.C.A. 36-6-306. Visitation rights of grandparents.

 (a)  Any of the following circumstances, when presented in a petition for grandparent visitation to a court of competent jurisdiction, necessitates a hearing if such grandparent visitation is opposed by the custodial parent or parents:    (1) The father or mother of an unmarried minor child is deceased;     (2) The child's father or mother are divorced, legally separated, or were never married to each other;     (3) The child's father or mother has been missing for not less than six (6) months;     (4) The court of another state has ordered grandparent visitation; or      (5) The child resided in the home of the grandparent for a period of twelve (12) months or more and was subsequently removed from the home by the parent or parents (this grandparent-grandchild relationship establishes a rebuttable presumption that denial of visitation may result in irreparable harm to the child).     (b) (1)  In considering a petition for grandparent visitation, the court shall first determine the presence of a danger of substantial harm to the child. Such finding of substantial harm may be based upon cessation of the relationship between an unmarried minor child and the child's grandparent if the court determines, upon proper proof, that:   (A) The child had such a significant existing relationship with the grandparent that loss of the relationship is likely to occasion severe emotional harm to the child;    (B) The grandparent functioned as a primary caregiver such that cessation of the relationship could interrupt provision of the daily needs of the child and thus occasion physical or emotional harm; or      (C) The child had a significant existing relationship with the grandparent and loss of the relationship presents the danger of other direct and substantial harm to the child.     (2) For purposes of this section, a grandparent shall be deemed to have a significant existing relationship with a grandchild if:     (A) The child resided with the grandparent for at least six (6) consecutive months;     (B) The grandparent was a full-time caretaker of the child for a period of not less than six (6) consecutive months; or     (C) The grandparent had frequent visitation with the child who is the subject of the suit for a period of not less than one (1) year.     (c)  Upon an initial finding of danger of substantial harm to the child, the court shall then determine whether grandparent visitation would be in the best interests of the child based upon the factors in § 36-6-307. Upon such determination, reasonable visitation may be ordered.     (d) (1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of § 36-1-121, if a relative or stepparent adopts a child, the provisions of this section apply.      (2) If a person other than a relative or a stepparent adopts a child, any visitation rights granted pursuant to this section before the adoption of the child shall automatically end upon such adoption.   [Acts 1997, ch. 503, § 2; 2000, ch. 891, § 1; 2001, ch. 440, § 1.]   

T.C.A. 36-6-307. Determination of best interests of child for grandparent visitations. 

   In determining the best interests of the child under § 36-6-306, the court shall consider all pertinent matters, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following:      (1) The length and quality of the prior relationship between the child and the grandparent and the role performed by the grandparent;     (2) The existing emotional ties of the child to the grandparent;     (3) The preference of the child if the child is determined to be of sufficient maturity to express a preference;      (4) The effect of hostility between the grandparent and the parent of the child manifested before the child, and the willingness of the grandparent, except in case of abuse, to encourage a close relationship between the child and the parent or parents, or guardian or guardians of the child;      (5) The good faith of the grandparent in filing the petition;      (6) If the parents are divorced or separated, the time-sharing arrangement that exists between the parents with respect to the child; and   (7) If one (1) parent is deceased or missing, the fact that the grandparents requesting visitation are the parents of the deceased or missing person. [Acts 1997, ch. 503, § 2; 2000, ch. 891, § 2

            The impact of these two statutes is to provide grandparents the ability to have visitation of their grandchild when the parents are not the traditional nuclear family.  If however the parents are married and are together, then the court will not likely second guess the child’s parents regarding who may or may not be around the child.