Maryland's highest court has ruled that a lower court used an improper standard to grant child visitation rights to a woman in a same-sex partnership after the relationship ended.

The case involves two women who were in a committed same-sex relationship for about 18 years. Janice M. adopted a girl in 1999 from India. The other woman in the relationship, Margaret K., played no role in the adoption process.

After the women split up in 2004, Margaret K. sought visitation rights and won them, after the lower court determined that she was a de facto parent.

But in its ruling, the Maryland Court of Appeals found that "de facto" parenthood status is not recognized in Maryland.

The Court of Appeals ruling sent the case back to the Baltimore County Circuit Court.

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