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Grandparents to get access to grandchildren following divorce cases |
New proposals unveiled this week will give grandparents the right to have access to their grandchildren after their mothers and fathers divorce.
Family rights groups have been campaigning for some time in a bid to ensure that children are not simply taken away after a separation, resulting in their grandparents possibly never seeing them again.
Now, Parenting Agreements are to be drawn up that will outline contact arrangements for them in a similar way to those that arrange access for the parent who does not have full custody.
Parents will be required by the court to make sure that grandparents are still able to have a role in children's lives following a split, as part of a review of the family justice system commissioned by the coalition.
Although the arrangements will not be legally binding, they will be able to be used and taken into account in court if grandparents are having access denied.
Parents will also be required to undergo mediation as part of the new proposals.
This comes after deputy prime minister Nick Clegg recently expressed concern about the family law system following a divorce.
"Mediators will encourage parents to speak to grandparents and engage with them while grandparents will be encouraged to contribute to the arrangements and engage with their grandchildren," a source commented.
Today's news marks the biggest shake-up in family law for many years and it is hoped that it will reflect the increasingly significant role grandparents now have in children's lives.
Research from Aviva earlier this month showed that half of all British grandparents now look after little ones while their parents are at work, with 99.5 per cent not accepting any money .
This is despite the fact that one in 20 admitted they are unable to take on paid work themselves because of family commitments, even though they would like to.
Most grandparents care for two children for 13 hours a week on average.
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