Bill > S0246

This bill modifies Florida's laws regarding grandparent visitation rights, expanding the circumstances under which grandparents can petition for court-ordered visitation with their grandchildren. Previously, grandparents could only seek visitation if parents were deceased, missing, or in a persistent vegetative state, and under very limited conditions. The new law allows grandparents to petition for visitation when parents are divorced or in those existing circumstances. The bill requires the court to hold a preliminary hearing to determine if the grandparent meets initial criteria and mandates family mediation before proceeding to a final hearing. When considering visitation, the court must evaluate multiple factors, including the child's best interests, the quality of the previous relationship between grandparent and grandchild, emotional ties, potential harm to the parent-child relationship, and the child's overall well-being. The bill also limits grandparents to filing a visitation petition only once every two years, with exceptions for demonstrable emotional harm. Importantly, the new law provides a more comprehensive framework for assessing grandparent visitation rights, considering a wide range of psychological, emotional, and relational factors. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/246