Rights to see Grandchild

[may1day]

Has anyone yet managed to secure a contact arrangenment to see their grandchild, if so how did you manage to do it.

[trt]

Are you having probs seeing yours?

[ojread2]

You're going to need a solicitor IMO
Grandparents have no automatic right (unfortunately) to see their grandchildren and it can be incredibly difficult to find the right judge who knows how important it is for those children to maintain contact with grand parents

Good luck

[daffy654]

Being a grandparent does not give you an automatic right to have contact with your grandchild. There is no legislation yet to cover this.

Your best bet would be to try and built a relationship with the parents of the grandchild so that they are happy for you to be around him or her.

[EDDIE51]

As you have been told , grandparents rights are just a proposal at present , no law enacted. So at the moment a contract arrangement is not possible. You may be able to get an informal arrangement but it could not be enforced.
There are enough problems ensuring parents have a chance to see their own children after a relationship breaks down.

[may1day]

My son & his GF split up before the baby was born, my son will have to get a contact order to see his baby. We both have seen the baby weekly up until now but the mother is very inconstitent and very immature. Today she sent me a text to say I could no longer see him and also neither could my son.
I just wondered if I could do my own contact order.

[EDDIE51]

Just concentrate on your son getting contact, that will be hard enough if the Mum decides to be difficult. It will be far better to try to arrange a suitable arrangement between the parents themselves, once you start getting lawyers involved it gets very expensive. If the mum is determined not to allow your son contact no court order in the world will be much use, she will always find an excuse why the contact can not take place.

[tonywiltshire]

Grandparents unlike parents do not have an automatic right to apply for a contact order and must apply for leave to make an application. As Eddie says the Parent with whom the child lives, usually, not always, the mother, can make any number of excuses to avoid contact by the other parent where they have a contact order. But since 2008 the courts automatically attach a warning notice to the contact order, which can ultimately lead to committal to prison for the non-compliant party, which has occurred.

[may1day]

Thanks Tony - it will be a very expensive ordeal but she is a very nasty immature person, so I don't know how i will go about it. I did some research on web and it can cost up to £5.000 so but would be out of the question for me. My other stuff that you replied to you were correct on my J/S arrangement, the hearing was very unfair and and stage 1 & 2 were heard by same manager so I did'n stand a chance. I am applealing now so I just hope its fairer.

[tamborine]

Try a carrot. If visits were a financial advantage for mother, few would refuse ?

Arrange to meet in public for coffee & give her £100. Everything costs :)

[ummmm]

You mean bribe her, Tambo?

Silly thing to suggest.

[daffy654]

Text her and tell her you would like to meet up and give her a gift for the baby, if she agrees you can then try talking calmly to her to see if she would be prepared to meet up for coffee once a week for you to see the baby.

[tamborine]

much better ummm than upsetting a mum with courts.

[ummmm]

Mayday has explained that she cannot afford court. Every time she wanted a bit of cash she'd deny access again.

[may1day]

I have bought her many gifts for the baby, and have knitted lots of garments. The baby has never worn any of them, she would never do anything normal like meet for coffee. She is just a nasty individual, who uses the baby as a weapon.

[daffy654]

Then you may just have to wait until she matures a bit or you can afford to take her to court (which has no guarantee of success).

[tamborine]

"...She is just a nasty individual, who uses the baby as a weapon..." No chance with that attitude.

This mother loved your son enough to conceive by him. Try & see her positives; she loves your grandchild & rears him alone. She is young & vulnerable, as is her child. You can be her friend & protector if you think of the welfare of the child before your own emotions. Keep trying with fondness. leave the negatives hidden.

[may1day]

I have tried with her, helped her with her benefits, housing, lots of things.
Then she has a flare up, with my son and she sends me nasty texts messages, about I ought to be ashamed of myself for bringing him into the world and to sort his life out before I see my Grandson. I have tried and tried but just so worn down now.

[EDDIE51]

You have my utmost sympathy, but with such an attitude there is very little chance of making progress .
Starting action to secure Grandparents rights is just going to make a difficult situation even worse.
Are you in contact with the Mum's Mum or dad, as a 'fellow grandparents' they may be more open to reason . Though I admit they are more likedly to take their daughters side .
Could at least be another line of approach .

[tamborine]

Ignore ignore ignore the nastiness. Doesn't matter how much you're whipped your love for your g'child heals the negatives. Keep reaching out to her and she will respond - if only coz you've worn her down :)

[may1day]

Yes, her mother and grandmother are lovely people and they have many talks with her and how she treats me. That is what keeps me going, that the Grandson is living in a stable, family home.