grandparents rites

[kezzy]

my mum has recently had a major falling out with my siste and she has a 8 year old daughter who loves her nan very much. my sister has always been what we would call a bad mother, my mum already has custody of her 17 year old son, she has had him for years, and he has come on so well since he was away from his mother as he had the worst childhood, many unmentionable things happened, and now she is threatening to take away my mums granddaughter she is also expecting another child who she has said will have nothing to do with us. and we are fearful for the child she is carrying but especially my niece, as she has a new partner who threatened my mum and my mum is scared of him, she is 60 years old and has a heart condition. he has also been seen and heard by numourus family members shouting at and grabbing my niece, she had a bruise on her arm he grabbed her so hard, but according to my sister he has every rite to do that as he has took her on as his own, even though they have only been together just over a year. there are many factors in this story that i can not go into as they are too horrofying. basically my mum needs to know if she would have visitation rites if she went to a solicitor, she knows it may be tough getting them for the child she is carrying but what about my niece?? someone please help us. thanks kez

[Buenchico]

Grandparents normally have no rights in respect of their grandchildren. They don't even have any right to know that they've got grandchildren. So your mother could have a long battle to try to change the situation. See this post for an example of someone who's trying to do something similar:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Question352 688.html
(NB: Please follow the link, from that post, to the Grandparents' Association. They may well be able to advise your mother as to whether there's any point in contacting a solicitor).

However, irrespective of whether a contact order is sought or not, I strongly recommend that you or your mother should have a confidential word with someone from Social Services. It sounds as if they may already be aware of your sister's limited parenting skills, and the potential risks to her children, but it's easy for professionals to leave case notes sitting in a filing cabinet unless somebody takes the trouble to draw their attention to changing circumstances (such as the arrival of your sister's new partner).

Chris

[kezzy]

thanks alot for your reply we were hoping not to get social workers involved again but i understand it may come to this, i will pass this information on to my mum thanks again kez.

[davyjo1]

Hi kezzy,
i know how you feel, we as grandparents & our son
have been denied access to our 2 grandchildren, my son went to court for access to his children the court granted him access, but every time he trys to arrange to see them
his ex wife does not answer the phone or is not in.
we the grand parents have not seen our 2 grandchildren
for 3 yrs, we were always a big part of there lives, but
now they have been taken away, i can not begin to tell
you the gut wrenching pain & despair we feel every day.
We went to see a solicitor to see it we could do
anything about this situation, we are not well off people
the solicitor told us in so many words that the cost
of any legal proccedings would cost thousands,
and basically we would be wasting our money.
BUT I REALLY DO HOPE SOMETHING TURNS UP TO MAKE YOUR SITUATION BETTER.
ALL THE BEST DAVE.

[kezzy]

thanks alot dave for your reply its much appreciated i am so sorry to hear of your prediciment and as you said to me i really hope it all turns out for the best for you. all we can do is keep fighting good luck for the future kez xx