Rights of Grandparents

Grandparents often ask if they have access rights or contact rights to their grandchildren. They do not have legal rights as such, but they can apply to the Court for contact arrangements to be made.

In some cases, relationships between a grandparent and their son/daughter-in-law may have broken down and it is not practical to approach them directly for a discussion. In such cases, a referral to mediation is an option, where an independent mediator will try to reach an agreement. However, all parties must agree to this approach.

You may be able to get a court order to access to your grandchild, if a parent stops you from seeing them. Going to court should be a last resort, as it can be expensive, take a lot of time and be disruptive for the child.