The bill establishes Anthonys Legacy Act, which modifies the criteria under which grandparents can apply for visitation rights in New Jersey. It mandates that courts give special consideration to grandparents who are also Gold Star family members when determining visitation applications. This change aims to recognize the unique circumstances of grandparents who have lost a family member in military service, thereby potentially facilitating their access to their grandchildren.

In addition to the special consideration for Gold Star family members, the bill retains the existing framework for visitation applications, which requires the applicant to demonstrate that visitation is in the child's best interests. The court will continue to evaluate various factors, including the relationship between the child and the applicant, the time elapsed since their last contact, and any history of abuse. The bill also introduces definitions for "Gold Star family member" and "deceased service member," clarifying the criteria for eligibility under the new provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 9:2-7.1