MO HB1494

Court may grant reasonable visitation rights to grandparents when parents file for dissolution of marriage, one parent is deceased, child has resided with grandparent for at least six months over a 24-month period, or grandparent is unreasonably denied visitation for more than 90 days.

Grandparents may intervene in dissolution actions solely on visitation issues and may file motions to modify original dissolution decrees to seek visitation rights.

Court must determine if grandparent visitation is in the child's best interest and does not endanger the child's physical health or impair emotional development; when married parents live together with the child, there is a rebuttable presumption they know what is in the child's best interest.

Court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the child, order home studies, consult with the child regarding visitation preferences, and award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.

Grandparent visitation rights may terminate upon adoption of the child, and visitation cannot be sought when both natural parents are legally married and living together with the child under certain circumstances.