An Act to improve grandparent visitation rights

This bill amends Massachusetts law to expand and clarify the circumstances under which grandparents and other relatives can petition for visitation rights with their minor grandchildren. It allows courts to grant visitation when parents are deceased, divorced, living apart, or when there is a compelling need to protect the child from harm, including cases where grandparents served as primary caregivers for at least six months. The legislation removes the requirement for expert witness testimony to prove a significant relationship and establishes a list of specific factors judges must consider to determine if denying visitation would cause emotional harm to the child. Additionally, the bill clarifies that visitation rights granted to grandparents end automatically if the child is later adopted by someone other than a stepparent. These changes aim to make the legal process for seeking grandparent visitation more accessible and focused on the best interests of the child.