Have you been denied access to your grandchildren?

Have you been denied access to your

Many grandparents are stopped from seeing their beloved grandchildren. It has been reported that Elton John’s mother never met her grandchildren due to a rift with her son.

When a marriage ends, or there is a death in the family, or an argument develops, contact can suddenly stop. Causing considerable heartache and upset to both grandparents and grandchildren.

What is the Law?

Family law firms are asked frequently what grandparents rights are. When they have been denied rights to their grandchildren. The sad news is that grandparents do not have automatic rights to contact with their grandchildren. But family courts recognise that grandparents play a valuable role in grandchildren’s lives. It is rare that a court would refuse grandparents access unless there was evidence of abuse.

Can grandparents apply to courts for access to grandchildren?

Only people with parental responsibility can make an application for a contact order.

Grandparents rights are limited but they could apply for permission (leave) to apply for a contact order.

If you are successful you can apply for a contact order through the court to gain access to your grandchildren. The court always considers all of the child’s circumstances and will only make an order where they believe it is better for the child than making no order at all.

It is only in circumstances that are extreme that a court will refuse access to your grandchildren.

In France, it is the law that every child has the legal right to access to their grandparents. But in this country it is terribly costly it can cost from £5,ooo to £50,000.

The costs to children caught up in adult wars can leave many scars.

At least one person told us that he was stopped seeing his grandparents when he was young, he never discovered why. He is now 30 and has only just rekindled his relationship with them and remarked that they are amazing, and he will always live with the regret he never got to know them sooner.

A call for rights for grandparents law.

MPs are calling for the government to bring in a law for the rights of grandparents to see their grandchildren after a divorce.

They would like an amendment to the Children Act which would include the child’s rights to have a close relationship with members of their extended family. The Ministry of Justice said it would consider the proposals.

Are you a heartbroken grandparent who has been denied access to your grandchildren?

Or are you a parent that has stopped your children seeing their grandparents?

Contact Gi Grimsby
Email us: news@gi-media.co.uk
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