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IN HB1375
Bill
Status
1/16/2018
Primary Sponsor
Bruce Borders
Click for details
AI Summary
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Expands grandparent visitation rights to include great-grandparents seeking visitation with great-grandchildren when parents refuse or restrict such visits.
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Allows grandparents and great-grandparents to seek visitation if: a child's parent is deceased, parents' marriage is dissolved in Indiana, or child was born out of wedlock (with paternity established for paternal relatives).
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Courts must consider factors including meaningful contact history, parents' and child's wishes, child's physical and emotional health, safety, welfare, and grandparent's ability to provide love and affection when determining best interests.
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Permits courts to interview children in chambers to determine their perception of whether visitation is in their best interests, with counsel permitted to be present and record made for appeal purposes.
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Applies to relocation proceedings: when a parent relocates with a child, courts must consider impact on grandparent or great-grandparent visitation arrangements alongside other custody modification factors.
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Effective July 1, 2018.
Legislative Description
Grandparent and great-grandparent rights. Allows great-grandparents to seek visitation rights with their great-grandchildren in certain circumstances. Provides that a grandparent or great-grandparent may seek visitation with a child if the parent or guardian of the child refuses to allow or restricts visitation by the grandparent or great-grandparent. Establishes factors the court may consider in determining whether granting visitation rights to a grandparent or great-grandparent is in the best interests of the child.
Last Action
First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary
1/16/2018