How do I establish a grandparent’s rights to visitation or custody?

In order for a grandparent to establish rights to visitation or custody of a grandchild in Maryland, certain criteria must be met. First, they must show that they have maintained a relationship with the grandchild or the child through the child’s parents. Grandparents must prove that the parent-child relationship has been severed or impaired due to death, divorce, separation, adoption, prolonged absence, or ongoing domestic violence. Secondly, the grandparent must prove that the visitation or custody would be in the child’s best interest. Factors that are taken into consideration are the child’s preference, the physical and psychological well-being of the child, the parental and grandparent relationship, and the amount of time the parent has spent with the child. In order to pursue visitation or custody rights, the grandparent will have to file a petition with the court. Along with the document, they must provide evidence of the relationship with the grandchild and evidence that the visitation or custody would be in the best interest of the child, such as letters, emails, pictures, etc. The court will ultimately determine whether or not grandparent visitation or custody is in the grandchild’s best interest. If granted, a court order will be issued for grandparent visitation. This is an important first step in establishing a grandparent’s rights to visitation or custody.

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How do I establish a grandparent’s rights to visitation or custody?

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