Bill > H1925

This bill aims to improve grandparent visitation rights by establishing clear legal guidelines for when and how grandparents or relatives can petition for visitation with an unmarried minor child. The bill outlines several specific scenarios where grandparents can seek visitation, including situations where parents are deceased, divorced, living apart, or there are concerns about the child's welfare. The legislation provides comprehensive criteria for determining visitation eligibility, including evaluating the existing relationship between the grandparent and child, potential emotional harm from separation, and the child's best interests. The bill requires that any visitation petition go through a structured legal process, beginning with mandatory mediation, where parties attempt to reach an agreement. If mediation fails, a court hearing must be scheduled within 60 days. Notably, the bill eliminates certain residency requirements and does not mandate expert testimony to establish a significant relationship, instead allowing courts to use a "reasonable person" standard when assessing potential emotional harm. The bill also specifies that previously granted visitation rights will be terminated if the child is adopted by someone other than a stepparent, and provides explicit guidelines for how courts should evaluate potential harm to the child when considering grandparent visitation requests.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1925