Grandparent rights are
governed by § 9-102. of the Maryland Statutes:
An equity court may:
(1) consider a petition for reasonable
visitation of a grandchild by a grandparent;
and
(2) if the court finds it to be in the best
interests of the child, grant visitation
rights to the grandparent.
Maryland
Courts can and do order visitation to
grandparents provided that the Court
determines that such visitation is in the best
interest of the children. The Court will look
at various factors such as:
1. Is it in the best interest of the child.
2. What is the current and past relationship
of the child with the grandparents.
3. What impact (positive or negative) will the
visitation have on the child.
4. Will the visitation impact upon the
educational and/or physical activities of the
child.
5. To determine what
is in the child’s best interest, the Court
will consider various factors, including the
nature of the child’s relationship with the
parents and grandparents, the potential
benefits and detriments to granting
visitation, the effect grandparent visitation
would have on the child’s attachment to the
family, the physical and emotional health of
the parties, and the stability of the living
and schooling arrangements for the child.
By Stuart H.
Grozbean, Esq.