Graysons Solicitors In The Press

Grandparent’s to gain recognition after relationship breakdown

We all know that grandparents play a vital role in the upbringing of children: in fact studies show they provide more than 40 per cent of childcare for parents who are at work or studying and more 70 per cent of childcare at other times.  It is estimated that this contribution is worth £50billion a year!  It seems strange then that, unlike step-parents, grandparents don’t have an automatic right to contact with their grandchildren. 

However, things may be about to change somewhat as recommendations within The Family Justice Review, recently commissioned by the Government and led by former civil servant, David Norgrove, may  offer grandparents the recognition and rights they deserve. 

Research has shown that children who see their grandparents regularly are more stable, but  that around 2.5 million children don’t see their grandparents for more than a month at a time, and around half of grandparents lose touch with their grandchildren following separation or divorce – most frequently it is the father’s parents who are cut off.  

It doesn’t appear that grandparents will be given any legal rights, but the recommendation within The Family Justice Review is that the importance of grandparents should be “reinforced” and that families should draw up “parenting agreements” to help focus on the children and secure contact with grandparents.  Should the grandparents then need to take court action in order to have contact with their grandchildren, these agreements could then be used as evidence of the parents’ original intention.

Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, has indicated that the Government is likely to accept the recommendations and said last year that it was “crazy” that millions of grandparents lose contact after separation and divorce, confirming that they play a vital role when relationships break down.

The proposals within the review are now going to consultation, and a Whitehall source has said that they put children “at the heart of the system” and make sure that parents going through a divorce “think about how they can be best cared for both now and in the future.”

For help and assistance with any issues relating to contact with grandchildren, please contact our family department on 0114 321 1888 or email divorce-enquiries@graysons.co.uk