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HB 1165

Family Law - Child Custody and Visitation - Visitation Reevaluations and Remedies

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Edith Patterson and 2 co-sponsors

HB 1165 establishes new procedures for Maryland courts to reevaluate child visitation orders and enforce compliance through specified remedies when violations occur.

Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 1165

Legislative bill overview

HB 1165 modifies Maryland family law regarding child custody and visitation arrangements by establishing procedures for reevaluating visitation orders and creating new remedies when visitation violations occur. The bill appears designed to provide courts with updated mechanisms to address changes in family circumstances and enforce visitation compliance.

Why is this important

Custody and visitation disputes significantly affect children's welfare and family stability. Clear procedures for reevaluation and enforcement mechanisms help ensure court orders reflect current circumstances and are actually followed, which can reduce prolonged family conflicts and protect children's access to both parents.

Potential points of contention

  • Burden on courts: Creating new reevaluation procedures could increase caseloads for already-strained family court systems without additional resources
  • Defining "changed circumstances": Disagreement likely exists over what qualifies as sufficient grounds for visitation reevaluation, affecting when parents can petition for modifications
  • Remedy scope and enforcement: The specific penalties or remedies for visitation violations may be viewed as either insufficient to protect children's rights or excessively punitive toward non-compliant parents, particularly regarding incarceration or financial sanctions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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