Bill > H1858

This bill amends Massachusetts law to address child custody arrangements for military personnel. It defines key terms such as "deployment," "mobilization," and "temporary duty" related to military service. The bill states that a parent's absence, relocation, or failure to comply with custody/visitation orders due to military activation, deployment, or temporary duty cannot be used to modify custody or visitation. The court can issue temporary custody/visitation orders during the parent's absence or delegate visitation rights to a family member to maintain the child's contact with the deployed parent. The court must also accommodate the deployed parent's ability to participate in custody hearings remotely if their military service will affect their in-person attendance.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1858