Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 19-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1802 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
1.  Grandparent.  "Grandparent" is a parent of a child's parent or the parent of the parent of a child's parent. "Grandparent" includes a parent of a child's parent whose parental rights have been terminated pursuant to Title 18‑C, section 9‑204 or Title 22, chapter 1071, subchapter 6, but only until the child's adoption.  
[PL 2019, c. 197, §2 (AMD); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
2.  Sufficient existing relationship.  "Sufficient existing relationship" means a relationship involving extraordinary contact between a grandparent and a child, including but not limited to circumstances in which the grandparent has been a primary caregiver and custodian of the child for a significant period of time.  
[PL 2017, c. 328, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. C, §19 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. D, §1 (AFF). PL 2017, c. 328, §1 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. C, §37 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 197, §2 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2005–2022 · leading case: Peters v. Costello, 891 A.2d 705 (Pa. 2005).
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Peters v. Costello, 891 A.2d 705 (Pa. 2005). · cites it 2× “1(12)(2005) (grandparent is specified relative created through blood relationship, marriage, or adoption or spouse to one of relatives); Me.Rev.Stat. Ann. tit. 19-A, § 1802 (grandparent is biological or adoptive parent of child's biological or adoptive parent); Mich.”
Zenda L. Fiske v. Paul B.D. Fiske, 2022 ME 31 (Me. 2022). “19-A M.R.S. §§ 1802(2), 1803(1)(B). Before 2018, the statute required the court to “determine on the basis of the petition and the affidavit whether it is more likely than not that there is a sufficient existing relationship or, if a sufficient relationship does not exist, that…”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1802(2) — 1 case
Zenda L. Fiske v. Paul B.D. Fiske, 2022 ME 31 (Me. 2022). “19-A M.R.S. §§ 1802(2), 1803(1)(B). Before 2018, the statute required the court to “determine on the basis of the petition and the affidavit whether it is more likely than not that there is a sufficient existing relationship or, if a sufficient relationship does not exist, that…”
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