Grandparents visitation rights
Dear Children's Commissioner for England,
Can you please give me any information on the rights of a grandparent being allowed visitation rights to see their grandchild. It is such a minefield trying to research the legalities of being allowed access to a grandchild. I am on many support groups with many thousands of grandparents being prevented from seeing their grandchild through no fault of their own, spending thousands of pounds paying solicitors fees etc in an attempt to try to see their grandchild. Our government needs to update their laws in this matter and approach those who can change it in favour of those that are not seeking custody, just that they be allowed to visit a grandchild. And stopping the parents using their child as a weapon, these parents knowing they can do this with no thought of the child or grandparent left suffering. I've never seen a change in our laws since time began, this really isn't good enough and something needs to change. If you could direct me to those actively seeking to change our archaic laws this would be greatly appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Elaine Hutson
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Hi Elaine,
Thank you for getting in touch. You raise really important points about
grandparents' rights to participate in their grandchildren's lives.
If you need advice on contact to your grandchildren, there is a great
guide on child contact arrangements available from [1]Child Law Advice.
CLA also runs a dedicated family law helpline on 0300 330 5480. There is
also a helpful guide to grandparents’ rights from Gransnet [2]here.
In terms of the broader policy points around grandparents’ rights, I will
pass your comments to my colleagues in the policy team for their
consideration in future project work.
Kind regards,
Lizzie
Lizzie Reeves
Policy and Advocacy Assistant
Children's Commissioner's Office
[3]Childrens Commissioner
Email: [4][Children's Commissioner for England request email]
Post: Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT
Online: [5]www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
Help at Hand adviceline: 0800 528 0731
Help at Hand email: [6][email address]
Help at Hand is a service for children and young people in care, leaving
care, living away from home or working with children’s services
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