An Act to improve grandparent visitation rights

This bill (HD 1644) updates Massachusetts law to clarify when grandparents or other relatives can seek court-ordered visitation with an unmarried minor child. It establishes specific eligibility criteria (e.g., parents divorced, deceased, living apart, or unwed parents with paternity established) and requires courts to find visitation is in the child's best interest. Key provisions include a presumption of emotional harm if a grandparent was a primary caregiver or had a significant existing relationship, and mandatory mediation before a court hearing (with exceptions for domestic violence cases). The law directly affects families navigating custody disputes by providing clearer standards for relatives seeking visitation rights.