Grandparents and the law

Grandparents are increasingly playing a vital role in the upbringing of children and support of family life in the UK.

Statistics show that between 1981 and 2001, a child’s chances of having a maternal grandmother increased from 46-56%.  This is mainly due to increased life expectancy, the result of better healthcare and improved prosperity.  There are approximately 14 million grandparents in the UK, 1.5 million of whom are udner 50 years and seven million are aged under 65.

Many parents rely on the help and support of grandparents in the upbringing of their children.  Research shows that grandparent childcare is usually provided by the maternal grandmother, who often lives less than half an hour away.  One in four families relies on childcare provided by grandparents and many more families reply on financial support from grandparents.

Please click on the following links for more information about:

How we can help

We can:

  • Advise on the legal position of grandparents and the available options to secure legal status for a grandchild (eg contact or residence).
  • Help grandparents reach agreement with aprents about arrangements for grandchildren following relationship breakdown or other problems.
  • Represent grandparents in court proceedings to secure legal status for grandchildren.
  • Advise and represent parents in cases involving grandparents and legal status and arrangements for children.

If you would like to discuss your situation in more detail or you would like more information about the legal options as grandparents please contact us by email fertilityandparenting@porterdodson.co.uk or call +44 (0)207 222 1244.