MD HB721

Amends Maryland Family Law Section 9-102 to expand circumstances under which courts may grant grandparent visitation rights when a petition is filed after a parent initiates divorce, annulment, custody, or paternity proceedings

Requires courts to grant visitation to grandparents if the child resided with the grandparent for at least 12 months, or if the grandparent's child (the child's parent) is deceased

All visitation determinations must find that visitation is in the child's best interests and would not interfere with the parent-child relationship

Courts may not deny visitation based on interference allegations unless proven by a preponderance of the evidence after a hearing

Effective October 1, 2025