The death of an adult child can be devastating. As parents, we don't expect our children to precede us in death. If you are a grandparent, you may face a double loss  the loss of a child and a loss of contact with grandchildren. It's important for grandparents to know about their rights and how they are affected by the death of an adult child. Intact Marriages or Partnerships Grandparents of a adult child who passed away while married will have to rely upon the surviving spouse for access to grandchildren. That person may or may not wish to maintain ties with the grandparents. Of course, it is best if the grandparents have had a cordial relationship with the surviving spouse. Even in such cases, the surviving parent may find contact with the grandparents to be painful, as it may in