Maryland2026Active
HB0025
Family Law - Grandparent Visitation
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:24 AM
In one sentence
This law changes the rules for when courts can or must give grandparents visitation rights to their grandchildren.
What it does
- Allows equity courts to grant grandparent visitation if a parent filed for divorce, annulment, custody, or paternity before the grandparent's petition was filed.
- Requires courts to consider how much personal contact happened between the grandparent and child before the case started when deciding on visitation.
- Mandates that courts must grant visitation rights if the child lived with the grandparent for at least 12 months or if the parent who is the grandparent's child has died, provided it is in the best interests of the child and does not interfere with the parent-child relationship.
- States that courts can only deny visitation based on interference claims after a hearing proves by evidence that harm would occur.
Who it affects
- Grandparents seeking visitation rights to their grandchildren
- Parents involved in divorce, custody, or paternity cases
- Equity courts handling family law petitions
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not define specific details on how courts measure 'personal contact' between grandparents and children.
- The text does not explain the exact process or timeline for holding hearings to prove interference with parent-child relationships.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Equity court
- A type of state court that handles civil matters like family disputes and visitation rights.
- Petition
- An official written request filed with a court asking for legal action or permission.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Altering the circumstances under which an equity court is authorized to grant visitation rights to a grandparent of a child to include that the petition for visitation rights was filed after an action for divorce, annulment, custody, or paternity was filed by a parent of the child; and requiring an equity court to grant certain visitation rights if the child resided with the grandparent for at least 12 months, or the child's parent, who is the child of the grandparent, is deceased, and the court finds it in the best interests of the child.
Official activity
Bill history
- In the House - Hearing 1/29 at 2:00 p.m.