Do Grandparents and Relatives Have Visitation Rights in Jordan?

The Jordanian Personal Status Law No. 15 of 2019 recognizes a right of visitation for certain relatives alongside the parents. Article 181 provides that where the father is absent, the grandfather and grandmother have the right to see the child once a month, and it addresses the gathering, seeing, and hosting of the child by those granted the right under the law.

This right is understood within the order of custodians in Article 170, which includes grandmothers and relatives; on the death or absence of a parent, the right of visitation or custody may pass to the next relative in that order, with regard to the child's interest.

Under Article 182 the Sharia Court organizes and modifies the time and place of visitation, so the relatives' right is not absolute but subject to the court's assessment in light of the child's best interest and the circumstances of each case.

Whether a grandparent's or relative's right of visitation is established, and its scope, therefore depends on what the court decides on the facts, and is not guaranteed uniformly in all situations.

This is a general explanation based on Jordanian Personal Status Law and does not replace advice from a qualified lawyer in a specific dispute.