Landmark Ruling: Grandparent, Same-sex Partner, & Third-Party Visitation Now More Likely in Maryland

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For years there was no right to “Grandparent Visitation” in Maryland. There was little chance that an unrelated “Third Party”, someone who was not a biological, or adoptive, parent could succeed in getting a Maryland Court to award that Third Party visitation with a child over a parent’s objection. It was considered a “fundamental right” of parents to direct and govern the care, custody and control of their children. This meant that unrelated individuals who wanted court-ordered custody or visitation had to prove that the parents were unfit, or that exceptional circumstances existed, and that it was in the child’s best interest for that Third Party to have custody or visitation.

Exceptional circumstances weren’t found very often and Third Parties with a strong bond to children were often denied formal visitation. Custody or visitation was most likely to be granted when the parents were absent, or because of injuries or drug addictions, were incapable of taking care of a child. When a formerly drug-addicted parent was ready to resume custody, and their own parent disagreed that they were ready, litigation often ensued. After contentious litigation, there were heartbreaking stories of grandparents, or other friends or relatives who had raised children for years, being completely cut-off from those children after litigation. Whether one agreed with the policy that biology trumped almost all, the policy came under increasing pressure in recent years after the legalization of same-sex marriage and the incidence of “de facto” parents as those same-sex couples began having children. The landmark case that just changed Maryland law is Michelle L. Conover v. Brittany D. Conover, No. 79, September Term 2015. Although the Conover case involved a former lesbian couple, the new law applies to anyone with a relationship to a child that might qualify that person as a “de facto parent”.

A “de facto” parent under new Maryland law is an adult with whom the biological or adoptive parent “consented to, and fostered” a “parent-like relationship with the child;” that the de facto parent and child lived together in the same household; that the de facto parent “assumed obligations of parenthood,” and where the de facto parent was in the parental role long enough to establish “a bonded, dependent relationship parental in nature.”

Now that Maryland has recognized “de facto” parents children are more likely to maintain formal relationships with the individuals who raised them regardless of biology. The law of Maryland has always been to grant custody and visitation in “the best interests of the child.” That hasn’t changed. The Conover case simply allows a Court to consider what’s in the best interest of the child without a showing that a parent is unfit, or that there are exceptional circumstances. This new test may reduce the acrimony that goes along with contested custody cases. Hopefully children will have the adults in their lives that have always been there for them.

Grandparent, Same-sex partner, & Third-Party Visitation has arrived!

About Tim Leahy

Timothy P. Leahy, a partner at the firm, practices law in Maryland and the District of Columbia and is a member of the American, Maryland, D.C, and Prince George’s County Bar associations. He received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Baltimore Law School in May 2000, earned his M.B.A. in 1993 at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, and his B.S. in Transportation & Logistics at Maryland in 1990. Timothy brings over 10 years experience in business to his practice of the law and focuses on litigation and general practice matters. A former home improvement contractor and army reservist, he volunteers with Christmas in April and has coached for the Bowie Boys & Girls Club. He is a Board member of his homeowners association, pro bono counsel for Bowie CLAW, and a volunteer Mediator for the District Court of Maryland. Timothy moved to Bowie in 1982 and lives there with his wife of 24 years and two sons.
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