S08937 Provides that a great-grandparent may apply to the supreme court for visitation rights with respect to certain minor great-grandchildren where either or both of the parents of such child is or are deceased.

Direction

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill amends Domestic Relations Law §72 and Family Court Act §651 to add great-grandparents alongside grandparents as parties who may petition for court-ordered visitation with a minor child when a parent is deceased or equity requires intervention. Per the topic definition, rights for grandparents or other relatives to seek visitation come at the expense of the parents and are therefore judged from the parent's side; making such visitation easier restricts the custody-support axis.

Related bills

• A06194 Requires the court to consider a child's health and safety when making a decision regarding child custody and visitation; directs the court ↓Restricts rights of the paying or noncustodial parent ↓Restricts rights of the paying or noncustodial parent Died (session ended)
• S05998 Requires the court to consider a child's health and safety when making a decision regarding child custody and visitation; directs the court ↓Restricts rights of the paying or noncustodial parent ↓Restricts rights of the paying or noncustodial parent Died (session ended)
• S08253 Relates to interest on unclaimed child and spousal support payments by the owner of abandoned properties.=No change to rights of the paying or noncustodial parent =No change to rights of the paying or noncustodial parent Died (session ended)
• S10468 Establishes confirmatory adoptions allowing adoption and parentage judgements for a child with more than two parents; recognizes functional ↑Expands rights of the paying or noncustodial parent ↔Mixed rights of the paying or noncustodial parent Died (session ended)

Sponsors

• Roxanne Persaud D · primary
• Pamela Helming R

Text versions

• Introduced 2026-01-16