HB 1244 Summary

• Allows grandparents to petition family court for reasonable visitation rights with minor grandchildren if the child's home state is Hawaii and denial of visitation would cause significant harm to the child.

• Establishes a rebuttable presumption that a parent's visitation decisions are in the child's best interests, which can be overcome by preponderance of evidence showing that denying visitation would cause significant harm.

• Requires courts to consider seven specific factors when ruling on grandparent visitation petitions, including the pre-existing relationship between grandparent and child, prior visitation arrangements, financial support provided, and relevant safe family home factors.

• Mandates that all living parents and custodians receive actual or constructive notice of the petition and hearing before any visitation order can be issued.

• Makes visitation orders enforceable by the court, which may issue additional orders necessary to enforce the visitation rights if in the child's best interests.