Rights Of A Father To See His Son

[Kassee]

My son and his partner (of ten years) have ended their relationship, as she has begun a new relationship with someone else. Their little boy (my grandson) is 5. What rights does my son (his father) have ? The mother is calling all the shots, telling him when he can and cant see his son and is keen to introduce her new boyfriend. After the length of time they have been together, she is really being nasty. My grandson is becoming very disturbed, he missed his dad, as they were very close. What rights does a father have ?

[Buenchico]

If your son was married to his former partner at the time of their child's birth he has 'parental resposibility' automatically.

If the couple weren't married but your son's name appears on the boy's birth certificate he also has parental responsibility automatically.

If they weren't married and your son's name doesn't appear on your grandson's birth certificate then (assuming that his former partner won't voluntarily give him parental responsibility) he can apply to a court for parental responsibility:
https://www.gov.uk/parental-rights-responsibilities/apply-for-parental-responsibility

Once your son has parental responsibility he still won't have an automatic right to contact with his son (although his former partner would still need to keep him updated about your grandson's well-being and progress) but it would be an important factor if a court was asked to make a contact order.

However a court won't consider such an application unless your son can show that formal mediation has been tried first, so that's the route he initially needs to take. If that fails (or his former partner simply refuses to have anything to do with it) he can then seek a court order:
https://www.gov.uk/looking-after-children-divorce