HB 1344 Summary

• Expands grandparent visitation rights to include great-grandparents under Indiana Code provisions governing family law and juvenile matters.

• Changes eligibility for grandparent and great-grandparent visitation from requiring a specific circumstance (deceased parent, dissolved marriage, or out-of-wedlock birth) to allowing visitation when a parent or guardian refuses or restricts visitation rights.

• Establishes six factors courts may consider when determining best interests of the child for grandparent or great-grandparent visitation: meaningful contact attempts, parental wishes, child's wishes, child's needs (health, safety, welfare), ability to provide love and affection, and other relevant factors.

• Applies great-grandparent visitation rights provisions to child relocation cases, requiring consideration of impact on great-grandparent visitation arrangements when parents relocate.

• Effective July 1, 2010.