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An Act To Give Probate Judges Latitude in Permitting Visitation by Grandparents
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §1803, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 2005, c. 360, §3, is further amended to read:
 
D. If the court's determination under paragraph C is in the affirmative, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem as provided in section 1507. The court shall hold a hearing on the grandparent's petition for reasonable rights of visitation or access and shall consider any objections the parents or legal guardians may have concerning the award of rights of visitation or access to the grandparent. The court may award reasonable rights of visitation or access to the grandparent regardless of objections the parents or legal guardians may have concerning the award of rights of visitation or access. If the court has appointed a guardian ad litem, the court shall also consider the report of the guardian ad litem. The standard for the award of reasonable rights of visitation or access is provided in subsection 3.
 
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes a court to award a grandparent reasonable rights of visitation or access to a minor child regardless of objections the parents or legal guardians may have concerning the award of rights of visitation or access.