Are Grandparents’ rights about to improve?

At the moment, most children live with their mothers after separation or divorce. It has been reported that one in five children lose contact with their absent parent, usually their father, within three years. In practice this means that they frequently lose contact with their paternal grandparents too.

As part of the Government’s review of the Family Justice system announced on 6th February 2012, separating parents will be encouraged to give children contact with their grandparents.

The Government recognised that “children get a huge amount of love and support from grandparents”, which is why it wants to do all it can to ensure that they remain part of the child’s life if their parents separate, but it felt that adding a new legal right would make the process even more complex and lengthy.

What the Government intends instead is to draw up and introduce new guidelines which parents would then consider in a plan or agreement at the point of separation.

Whilst not conferring an absolute right for grandparents, nonetheless it is a positive move and an improvement on the present situation.

If you would like expert advice in relation to this or any other family law matter please contact Colin Davies, Senior Partner in the Family Law Department, on 0844 984 6138