What is the process for a grandparent to seek visitation rights in court?

In Maryland, a grandparent seeking visitation rights must go to court and file a petition asking the court for visitation rights. The Maryland Code of Family Law allows a grandparent to seek visitation rights if certain conditions are met. The grandparent must demonstrate that he or she has a genuine concern for the welfare of the grandchild and that visitation would be in the best interest of the child. The grandparent must also show that visitation would not interfere with the parent-child relationship, that there has been some form of existing contact or relationship between the grandchild and the grandparent, and that the parent has denied or unreasonably limited visitation between the grandparent and the grandchild. The court may also consider other factors in making its decision, such as the age of the grandchild, the nature of the relationship between the grandparent and grandchild, and the current living situation of the grandchild. If the petition is granted, the court may order supervised or unsupervised visitation depending on the best interest of the child. The court may also enter an order of temporary visitation and set a date for a hearing in which both sides can present evidence and argue their case. The court will then make a ruling based on the evidence and the best interests of the child.

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