MD HB25

Equity courts may grant grandparent visitation when a petition is filed after a parent initiates divorce, annulment, custody, or paternity proceedings, provided visitation is in the child's best interests and would not interfere with the parent-child relationship

Courts must consider the amount of personal contact between grandparent and child before the petition was filed when evaluating best interests

Courts are required to grant visitation if the child resided with the grandparent for at least 12 months OR if the grandparent's child (the parent) is deceased, subject to best interests and non-interference findings

Allegations of interference with the parent-child relationship cannot be the basis for denying visitation unless the court determines by preponderance of evidence after a hearing that interference would occur

Effective October 1, 2026