This bill amends Iowa law regarding grandparent and great-grandparent visitation rights by allowing courts to grant such rights under certain circumstances without the previous requirements concerning the fitness of the surviving parent. Specifically, it removes the stipulation that a surviving parent must be deemed unfit or that their judgment must be impaired for a court to consider granting visitation rights to a grandparent or great-grandparent.

Under the current law, visitation could only be granted if the court found that it was in the child's best interests, that a substantial established relationship existed between the grandparent and the child, and that the surviving parent's unfitness or impaired judgment was evident. By eliminating these requirements, the bill aims to simplify the process for grandparents seeking visitation rights, potentially allowing for more opportunities for children to maintain relationships with their extended family.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 600C.1