KentuckyCourts may grant grandparents visits based on a child's best interests
Courts may grant grandparents visits under different proof rules depending on who has custody, and must consider visits with another grandparent when a grandparent receives temporary custody.
What it does
Courts may grant visits to either paternal or maternal grandparents. The evidence a court must find depends on whether a parent or someone else has custody.
When a court places a child in a grandparent's temporary care, it must consider visits with another grandparent if visits serve the child's best interests.
Argument forCourts could consider a child's wishes, well-being, and family relationships before deciding whether visits would help or harm the child.
Argument againstA court could allow visits over a fit parent's objection if it finds compelling reasons and clear evidence that visits serve the child's best interests.
More detail
A court may grant visitation to a grandparent. The provision covers either paternal or maternal grandparents seeking visits. If a parent has custody, the court must find clear and convincing evidence of compelling reasons to overcome the presumption that a fit parent acts in the child's best interests, and that visits serve the child's best interests. If someone other than a parent has custody, the court must find by a preponderance of the evidence that visits serve the child's best interests. No start or end date is stated.
A court must consider visits with another grandparent. This applies when a court grants temporary custody to one grandparent under the child protection law. The court must find that visits serve the child's best interests. The duty applies when the court grants temporary custody to a grandparent.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 15recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H)Latest
- Mar 262nd reading, to RulesMinor
- Mar 25floor amendment (1) filedMinor
- Mar 25reported favorably, 1st reading, to CalendarMinor
- Mar 24to Judiciary (H)Minor
- Mar 18to Committee on Committees (H)Minor
- Mar 18received in House
- Mar 173rd reading, passed 36-0 with Committee Substitute (1)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded PASS SB 281 w/ SCS 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
- Mar 13posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 16 2026
- Mar 132nd reading, to RulesMinor
- Mar 12reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)Minor
- Mar 11to Judiciary (S)Minor
- Feb 27to Committee on Committees (S)Minor
- Feb 27introduced in SenateIntroduced