MS SB2765

Creates new Section 93-5-35 to allow courts to grant visitation rights to non-parent third parties or those standing in loco parentis under specified limited circumstances.

Permits visitation petitions when: one parent is deceased or missing 3+ months; child born out of wedlock to unmarried parents; dissolution of marriage/separate maintenance proceedings are pending; or ongoing parent-child relationship exists.

Requires petitioner to provide verified petition with detailed facts and serve notice to all legal parents, guardians, custody holders, and other relevant parties per Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.

Courts must give special weight to legal parents' opinions of child's best interests and consider factors including historical relationship, motivations of parties, visitation time requested, and impact on child's activities.

Visitation rights automatically terminate upon child adoption unless adopted by spouse of natural parent, are unavailable to those convicted of intentional homicide of a child's parent except under certain conditions, and do not apply when grandparents' visitation rights under Mississippi Code Title 93, Chapter 16 apply.