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Senate Approves Grandparents' Rights Bill

Last updated on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - The Indiana Senate has approved a bill to help grandparents and great-grandparents obtain possible child visitation rights.

Senator Brent Steele, the author of the Senate Bill 59, says that "at times, the only stability within a child's life are their grandparents and great-grandparents."

The proposed law allows grandparents to seek visitation and gives the court guidelines to allow the relationships to continue.

Steele says that if the law is passed, courts would consider several factors to determine if visitation is in the child's best interest including the age and sex of the child; the wishes of the child, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents; the relationship between the child and their grandparents or great-grandparents; the mental and physical health of the individuals involved; the history of domestic violence by the grandparents or great-grandparents; and evidence that the child has been cared for by the child's grandparents or great-grandparents.

The vote was passed 44 to 6 and will now advance to the House of Representatives.

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