It is always a good idea for grandparents to do what they can to reach an informal agreement with parents regarding access to their grandchildren. Going to court can be expensive, time-consuming and cause distress to the child. However, as a last resort, it may be possible for you to get a court order which allows you access to your grandchild if a parent is preventing you from seeing them. Sadly, grandparents do not have an automatic right to contact with their grandchildren, but family courts do recognise the invaluable role that grandparents play in children's lives.
The court will always consider all the child's circumstances and must only make an order where they consider it better for the child than making no order at all. The court may have to weigh up whether your contact with the child might disrupt the rest of the family relationships. The courts will consider your connection with the grandchild, the nature of the application and whether it may harm the child's wellbeing in any way.
You will need good legal advice because you will need to persuade the court that you have a meaningful and on-going relationship with your grandchildren, which significantly benefits their lives.
For more information and advice, contact Dale & Co. today.
Last Updated: Thursday 25th April 2019
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