| |
Can I get financial help with the cost of bringing up my grandchildren?
If this is a permanent arrangement you will be able to claim child benefit and child tax credit. Some local authorities may pay a residence order or Special Guardianship allowance. Our publication looking after your grandchild, price £5.75 will help guide you in the right direction. Or you can call our welfare benefits advisor on 01279 412963 or email julia.chesterman@grandparents-association.co.uk for advice.
|
What rights do grandparents have?
None. There are no formal legal rights but grandparents do have the right to apply for leave from the court, under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989, to apply for contact.
|
My daughter/ son is stopping me from seeing my grandchildren.
Parents have the right to make decisions about their child's upbringing, including who he or she sees. However, a child has a right to associate with other family members, and to enjoy a family life, which includes them. It may be helpful to point this out to the parent in a tactful way, and suggest that they should have in mind the benefits to a child that these relationships can give - both material and emotional. Ultimately a court may make an order for the child to have contact, but legal proceedings should always be a very last resort.
|
There has been a family feud. What should I do now?
Try to communicate - either talk or write a non-confrontational letter without apportioning blame. It may help to involve a neural third party, if possible, to enable communication to be re-opened to resolve issues, or for the parties to agree to put them behind them. If this fails, our Grandparents Advice and Information Line may be able to give you the details of a local mediation service.
|
Who can I speak to about legal issues?
We suggest that you contact a solicitor who is a member of the Law Society's Children Panel, such as one of those in the Grandparents Association Lawyer's List. Click here.
|
My son is not married to the mother of my grandchild(ren).
Your son should be encouraged to obtain a Parental Responsibility Agreement with the mother so that he has joint parental responsibility with her. This may be done even if they are not living together, and if the Mother will not agree it may be possible for him to obtain a Parental Responsibility Order from the court. See our fact sheet on Parental Responsibility.
|
I am bringing up my grandchildren. How can I make this official?
There are different Orders that will give the children some security. The most common is a Residence Order. Contact the Grandparents Advice and Information Line for a factsheet.
|
What services does Grandparents' Association operate?
See the relevant pages on our Website for Services or contact the Grandparents Advice and Information Line for more information.
|
