Utah Code 81-9-403. Visitation rights of grandparents
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(1) In accordance with the provisions and requirements of this section:
Terms Used In Utah Code 81-9-403
- Child: means , except as provided in Section
81-6-101 , a biological or adopted child of any age. See Utah Code 81-1-101 - Court: means :(2)(a) a judge; or(2)(b) a court commissioner if the court commissioner has authority to hear the matter under Section
78A-5-107 or the Utah Rules of Judicial Administration. See Utah Code 81-1-101- District court: means the district court with proper jurisdiction over the minor child. See Utah Code 81-9-401
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Grandchild: means the minor child with respect to whom a grandparent is seeking visitation rights under this part. See Utah Code 81-9-401
- Grandparent: means an individual whose child, either by blood, marriage, or adoption, is the parent of the grandchild. See Utah Code 81-9-401
- Minor child: means , except as provided in Section
81-6-101 , a child who is younger than 18 years old and is not emancipated. See Utah Code 81-1-101- Parent: means a parent with an established parent-child relationship as described in Section
78B-15-201 . See Utah Code 81-1-101- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
(1)(a) a grandparent has standing to bring an action requesting visitation in district court by petition; and(1)(b) a grandparent may file a petition for visitation rights in the juvenile court or district court where a divorce proceeding or other proceeding involving custody and visitation issues is pending.
(2)
(2)(a) In accordance with Section 80-2a-201 , it is the public policy of this state that a parent retains the fundamental right and duty to exercise primary control over the care, supervision, upbringing, and education of a minor child of the parent.
(2)(b) A court shall presume that a parent’s decision in regard to grandparent visitation is in the best interest of the parent’s minor child.
(3) A court may find the presumption in Subsection (2)(b) rebutted if the grandparent, by clear and convincing evidence, establishes that:
(3)(a) the grandparent has filled the role of custodian or caregiver to the grandchild that:
(3)(a)(i) is in a manner akin to a parent; and
(3)(a)(ii) the loss of the relationship between the grandparent and the grandchild would cause substantial harm to the grandchild; or
(3)(b) both parents are unfit or incompetent in a manner that causes potential harm to the grandchild.
(4)
(4)(a) If the court finds the presumption in Subsection (2)(b) is rebutted, the court may consider whether grandparent visitation is in the best interest of the grandchild.
(4)(b) If the court considers whether grandparent visitation is in the best interest of the child, the court shall take into account the totality of the circumstances, including:
(4)(b)(i) the reasonableness of the parent’s decision to deny grandparent visitation;
(4)(b)(ii) the age of the grandchild;
(4)(b)(iii) the death or unavailability of a parent; and
(4)(b)(iv) if the grandchild is 14 years old or older, the grandchild’s desires regarding visitation after the court inquires of the grandchild.
(5) If the court finds the presumption in Subsection (2)(b) is rebutted and grandparent visitation is in the best interest of the grandchild, the court may issue an order for grandparent visitation.
(6) Notwithstanding Section 81-9-404 , the adoption of a grandchild by the grandchild’s stepparent does not diminish or alter visitation rights previously ordered under this section.
(7) On the petition of a grandparent or the legal custodian of a grandchild the court may, after a hearing, modify an order regarding grandparent visitation if:
(7)(a) the circumstances of the grandchild, the grandparent, or the custodian have materially and substantially changed since the entry of the order to be modified, or the order has become unworkable or inappropriate under existing circumstances; and
(7)(b) the court determines that a modification is appropriate based upon the factors set forth in Subsections (3) and (4).
(8) A grandparent may petition the court to remedy a parent’s wrongful noncompliance with a visitation order.