Children: Grandparents & Contact with Grandchildren
What should you do if you fear that you might lose contact with your grandchildren?
Losing contact with your grandchildren due to a split family relationship can be a devastating experience. You're at the time in your life when family really matters and the relationship you have with your grandchildren can mean the world to you and naturally you want that important relationship in your life to continue and prosper even though your children's relationships or circumstances have changed.
So what legal steps can you take to see your grandchildren?
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Initially, it is advised that you approach your grandchildren's parents and explain that you wish to maintain contact with them, focusing on the advantages of contact.
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Consider visiting when your grandchildren have contact time with their parent, so that they get to see the whole family. This is a good way to re-establish a relationship if visits and/or contact have been temporarily stopped. If this is unsuccessful, you can try mediation. However, for this to take place, both sides have to agree to mediate.
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A last resort is an application to the Court. However, there is no presumption of contact with grandparents (as there is with parents) and grandparents have to apply for leave to make an application.
A Court will not wish to interfere with an absent parent's contact and your grandchildren's parent may also object. If so, you will have to persuade the Court that you had a meaningful and ongoing relationship with your grandchildren and that it is in their best interests for this to continue. If this is agreed, then your application for contact with your grandchildren will be considered.
How to Contact Us
If you do need to talk through your relationship circumstances with someone who's completely independent and unbiased, please do talk to us. We're here to help and advise you and help you through the personal problems you face. You can rely on our experience, expertise and emotional support to put you on the right course of action, a path that's totally right for you.
Get in touch today. We want to help.
Call 0116 212 1000 for our Leicester Office or 01858 445 480 for our Market Harborough Office. Whichever office you call, someone will be available to assist you.
