As American families change, individuals other than parents often fulfill traditional parenting roles. To assist these third-party caregivers, Indiana enacted statutes which allow for third-party custody and visitation. These statutes—though intended for good—allow the possibility of third-party infringement on the liberty interest of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children. This Note examines the development of the parental liberty interest, discusses how Indiana's statutes threaten the parental interest, and proposes solutions that would protect the parental interest while providing third parties the ability to obtain child custody and visitation when necessary.