Grandparents and Mediation
I’ve seen an increase in grandparents contacting me about attending mediation to have the ability to see their grandchildren. In my other role as a solicitor, I have also seen an increase in cases in this area.
It is difficult to reach out to take advice or consider mediation about a breakdown in a relationship with your own child, the parent. Some grandparents do not take steps for fear of worsening the relationship with their children. However, grandparents and other extended family members have important roles to play in children’s lives. Research by Oxford University has shown how grandparents play a vital role in children’s well being.
Grandparents have no automatic right to see their grandchildren. However, our law will allow grandparents to apply to the court for permission to make an application to see their grandchildren. When considering whether a grandparent should be given permission to make an application to see their grandchildren the court will have regard to :
- The nature of the proposed application
- The connection with the child
- Any risk there might be of the application disrupting the child’s life to the extent that they will be harmed by it
The above are not the only matters which will be considered but are areas that must be given regard to. Every decision about a child in the court must consider the child’s welfare and what is in their best interests. As more and more research is undertaken on this area the courts are recognising the importance of the role of grandparents in a child’s life.
Mediation is an ideal forum to help enable children to have a relationship with their grandparents. Mediation allows there to be an understanding that the relationship between the parents and grandparents may not be limited. If we can improve communication between the parents and grandparents within mediation then all the better but the priority is to support the children in having a relationship which benefits them.
