MARYLAND COURT RESTRICTS GRANDPARENT RIGHTS

In 1984, the Maryland Legislature recognized the importance of grandparent visitation and enacted a Grandparent Visitation Statute to afford grandparents reasonable visitation in the best interests of the children. For more than twenty (20) years, Maryland Courts have afforded grandparents reasonable visitation with their grandchildren when it serves the grandchildren’s best interests, recognizing the unique benefits grandparents can give to a child. (More...)

Case Notes:
GRANDPARENT VISITATION
(Visitation Standard is Custody Standard)
Koshko v. Haining, No. 35, Sept. Term 2006, 2007 Md. Lexis 10

Section of Family & Juvenile Law Newsletter, May 2007

In January 12, 2007, the Court of Appeals essentially eliminated the grandparent visitation rights that have existed for twenty (20) years in Maryland (thankfully, after my grandparent visitation trial on January 2, 2007). In 1984, the Maryland Grandparent Visitation Statute, Family Law Article, § 9-102, was enacted to afford grandparents “reasonable” visitation when it serves the grandchildren’s “best interests.” Fairbanks v. McCarter, 330 Md. 39, 662 A.2d 121 (1993), set forth six (6) factors to determine whether grandparent visitation is in the grandchildren’s best interests. (More...)