Grandparents' Rights Solicitors
Unfortunately, as a grandparent, you do not have the legal right to have contact with your grandchildren and your legal rights are limited.
Normally, only your grandchild’s parents get to decide who has contact with them and when. However, if one or both parents are stopping you seeing your grandchildren, there are several legal options available that allow you to request access.
Grandparent visitation rights
If you’re being unfairly denied access to your grandchild, it’s important that you speak to a specialist family law solicitor. Our specialist grandparents’ rights solicitors can examine your case and look at the options available to you before court action becomes necessary.
If you’re unable to find a solution, the court will ultimately decide whether it’s in your grandchild’s best interest to have contact with you. Our family solicitors can help you apply to the court for a Child Arrangements Order – this will determine what level of contact you and grandchild can have.
However, court intervention is costly and offers no guarantees; you should make sure that you’ve exhausted all other options before going down this route.
Blog | Do you have a legal right to see your grandchildren?
Grandparent mediation
Of course, the best way to see your grandchildren is to maintain positive relationships with one or both of their parents.
Going to court can be a long and difficult process for grandparents, parents and children. For this reason, where appropriate, our solicitors can refer you to mediation services to help resolve grandchild contact issues outside of the courtroom.
Professionally trained mediators can work with you and your grandchild’s parents or current guardian to help reach an agreement.
Applying for custody of grandchildren
If you want to apply for custody of your grandchild, we can advise you of your rights. Our family lawyers can also help you request permission from the courts.
Again, when the court considers your application, they will make their decision based on what’s best for your grandchild’s welfare.
They will look at the child’s existing relationship with you, and the impact a custody dispute would have on their well-being.
Need help with grandparents’ rights? Contact our family law solicitors in Bristol
If you’re a grandparent and you’re worried about contact with your grandchildren, call our family solicitors in Bristol and South Gloucestershire on 0117 325 2929 or complete our online enquiry form.
In some areas of family law, we offer a complimentary initial telephone meeting of up to 30 minutes with a member of our family law team. This meeting is designed for you to get to know your solicitor and to discuss your options.
If specific advice is required and you’d like to continue past the 30 minutes, please let your solicitor know and you may be able to carry on into a more detailed consultation.