Grandparents play a crucial role in the emotional wellbeing and upbringing of their grandchildren. Supporting a healthy connection between grandparents and their grandchildren is key to fostering a happy wider family.
Unfortunately, significant life events that affect parents, such as separations, divorce, and family disagreements, can also have an impact on the relationship grandparents have with their grandchildren.
At Braddon & Snow, our specialist grandparent’s rights solicitors recognise how emotionally distressing it can be if your relationship with your grandchildren is being restricted. We provide legal advice to help you clarify your rights and defend your relationship with grandchildren, including assisting with:
- Visitation rights
- Applying for custody (child arrangements)
- Modifying existing orders
- Parental issues
No matter how complicated or volatile your situation has become, we will prioritise the grandchild’s well-being and help you establish a fair amount of involvement with them, helping you stay a part of your family’s lives.
Speak to our family lawyers for grandparents’ rights advice in Hoddesdon or Broxbourne
For a friendly, informal discussion with our grandparents’ rights solicitors in Hoddesdon and Broxbourne, please get in touch by calling us at 01992 471 218 or alternatively, send us an email at mail@braddonsnow.co.uk.
Our solicitors can provide expert advice to support you with your family’s needs, and will get back to you quickly.
Why choose our grandparents’ solicitors?
Across our firm’s two offices, we uphold an outstanding standard of client care that reflects our commitment to families across Hoddesdon and Broxbourne.
Members of our team are on Resolution, the family-first law providers committed to promoting constructive approaches to family law, fostering a strong family-friendly culture across our team. We understand exactly how important it is to nurture relationships with those we hold dear. We are known for our warmth and communicativeness, offering expert legal advice to families of all backgrounds.
Our grandparents’ rights services
Visitation rights
As a grandparent, you will want nothing more than to be able to see your grandchildren on a regular basis. Unfortunately, when family relationships break down, your access to your grandchildren can be restricted. Our grandparents’ rights lawyers regularly help families understand grandparents’ legal rights and support them in seeking visitation where required.
If you are a grandparent who has been denied access to your grandchildren, we will work hard to resolve matters through mediation and negotiation, and apply for a Child Arrangements Order through the court where necessary.
Applying for custody (child arrangements)
In situations where a parent or both parents are failing to provide a safe, stable environment for their child, then grandparents may step in to care for their grandchildren.
Applying for custody (now referred to as child arrangements), whether through a Child Arrangements Order or a Special Guardianship Order, can grant grandparents the legal authority to make key decisions on behalf of their grandchildren.
Our experts can guide grandparents through the application process, ensuring that their application is thoroughly evidenced and demonstrates the child’s best interests, submitting paperwork in good time so that you can act to secure the child’s best interests.
Modifying existing orders
Family circumstances sometimes change, whether gradually over time or seemingly overnight. This can render existing arrangements redundant and lead to a child’s needs not being properly met.
We can help grandparents apply to vary or enforce court orders relating to contact or residence, ensuring that the grandchild has the support and contact that the court previously confirmed.
Whether you are seeking to increase visitation, adjust living arrangements, or address breaches, we can provide practical advice and astute representation in pursuing your role in their grandchildren’s lives.
Parental issues
Disagreements about matters such as a grandchild’s upbringing and welfare or the amount of involvement that they have with their grandparents can cause disputes between parents and grandparents.
It can be difficult to know where to turn when this happens, as deteriorating family bonds require sensitivity and expert care to manage. Our grandparents’ rights solicitors know just how to navigate such circumstances while ensuring that the child’s welfare remains the key focus.
Whether you are looking to address grandparents’ access rights through mediation or re-establish healthy communication expectations through the court, we work to find constructive solutions.
Frequently asked questions about grandparents’ rights
Do grandparents have legal rights to see their grandchildren in the UK?
In the UK, grandparents do not have automatic rights to see their grandchildren, and the legal rights of the parents to the child will be prioritised. However, the law does recognise the importance of the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.
If grandparents are being denied access to their grandchildren, then the first step towards an amicable resolution is usually discussion or family mediation. If this fails, grandparents can consider applying to the court for permission to seek contact, which will only be granted if it is deemed to be in the child’s best interests.
What is the process for a grandparent to apply for a Child Arrangements Order for contact with a grandchild?
If contact arrangements cannot be agreed upon through informal discussions, then grandparents can apply to the family court for a Child Arrangements Order.
The process begins with attending a Mediation Information and Assessment meeting (MIAM) to explore alternatives to court. If this proves unsuccessful, then an application to the court can be made, inviting them to consider whether to grant permission to the grandparents to apply and considering matters relating to the child’s welfare, relationship to the grandparents, and potential disruption to the child’s life.
If permission is successfully granted, then the court will consider whether contact should be ordered. Our grandparents’ rights lawyers understand how to seamlessly guide families through the process and improve your chances of success.
What is a Child Arrangements Order and how does it help grandparents?
A Child Arrangements Order is a legal ruling that sets out the living arrangements for a child, including where and who they live with. For grandparents, a Child Arrangements Order can provide formal recognition of their role and access to structured time with their grandchildren.
This is particularly important when grandparents have lost access to their grandchildren due to family conflict or breakdown. The order stabilises the relationship between children and their grandparents in support of their social wellbeing, protecting grandparents’ access rights.
How much does a solicitor for grandparents’ rights cost in the UK?
The expenses of instructing a solicitor for grandparents’ rights in the UK will vary depending on the complexity of the case, the need for court representation, and whether mediation is successful.
We maintain a transparent approach to pricing, typically basing fees on the amount of time spent on the work we complete and the level of seniority required. For an idea of the financial commitment you may be facing, you can check out our pricing page. Our solicitors are always happy to discuss costs with you.
How can a grandparent get parental responsibility for their grandchild?
Grandparents do not automatically have parental responsibility for their grandchild, but in some cases, they may be able to obtain it. This could be through a Child Arrangements Order stating that the child should live with them, or through applying for a Special Guardianship Order. Another less common option could be adoption.
In these situations, grandparents’ access to grandchildren will extend beyond contact and into making key decisions about the child’s upbringing, such as healthcare and education, and decisions relating to providing a stable and legally recognised home.
Speak to our family lawyers for grandparents’ rights advice in Hoddesdon or Broxbourne
For a friendly, informal discussion with our grandparents’ rights solicitors in Hoddesdon and Broxbourne, please get in touch by calling us at 01992 471 218 or alternatively, send us an email at mail@braddonsnow.co.uk.