MPs call for grandparents' rights ================================= ![MPs call for grandparents' rights](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/7fba54bd6852c0b80047727a0875303f.jpeg)MPs are calling for a change in the law to back grandparents who want to see their grandchildren after parents split up. MPs from all parties are backing an amendment to the Children's Act 1989 which would establish a presumption that a relationship with grandparents and extended family is in the best interest of the child. Only those with parental rights have automatic legal access to a child. Where parents separate, and one becomes the child's sole carer, grandparents can be pushed out the picture, particularly in cases where the parents are estranged. If informal agreements or mediation fails, then the child's grandparents face a court battle if they want to see the child. An estimated [one million](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/may/07/grandparents-divorce-separation-contact) grandparents in Britain are currently denied access to their grandchildren and family lawyers have noted a rise in the number of grandparents [going to court](https://vardags.com/family-law/access-to-grandchildren) for access to their grandchildren. Currently grandparents face a two stage process, first applying to court for the right to make an application, and then going through the formal process of applying for child arrangement orders. Speaking on talkRADIO on Monday, leading divorce lawyer Georgina Hamblin explained that the issue of incorporating grandparents into child arrangements after family breakdown is very much a live one: > The difficulty that grandparents are facing has been in the attention of ministers for some time now. Labour started talking about it in 2010 and put a green paper forward to try and change the law and it was decided at that point that it was going to put too much of a burden on the court to have everyone rushing down and making applications. Georgina explained should the change go through there would at least initially be a huge amount of litigation. What is less certain would be the precise outcome of applications even if there was a presumption that contact was beneficial given that decisions about arrangements would be at the judge's discretion. > There's no guarantee. Every case is considered on the individual facts and the best interests of the child. You can be looking at anything from meeting up for half an hour in a restaurant with someone there supervising to a whole week on with one parent, a whole week off with the other, or indeed grandparents. Georgie, a working mother herself noted how the support of all her son's grandparents help get her through the working week; she was certain that the presumption that contact is to the child's benefit, was ultimately, a good one. > Its always going to be in their best interests to have a big and supportive a family network around them." "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) More Family Law news -------------------- [Greece legalises fostering for gay couples](https://vardags.com/family-law/greece-legalises-fostering-for-gay-couples "Greece legalises fostering for gay couples") [Australian legal aid chairman suggests family law style mediation be used in cases of elder abuse](https://vardags.com/family-law/australian-legal-aid-chairman-suggests-family-law-style-mediation-be-used-in-cases-of-elder-abuse "Australian legal aid chairman suggests family law style mediation be used in cases of elder abuse") [MPs call for grandparents' rights](https://vardags.com/family-law/mps-call-for-grandparents-rights "MPs call for grandparents' rights") [Times distorted coverage of Muslim foster carers, press regulator finds](https://vardags.com/family-law/times-distorted-muslim-foster-carers-coverage "Times distorted coverage of Muslim foster carers, press regulator finds") [Steinfeld and Keidan crowdfund for civil partnership battle](https://vardags.com/family-law/steinfeld-and-keidan-crowdfund-civil-partnership-battle "Steinfeld and Keidan crowdfund for civil partnership battle") Articles by Thea Dunne ---------------------- [Economy boosted by big money divorce cases](https://vardags.com/family-law/economy-boosted-by-big-money-divorce-cases "Economy boosted by big money divorce cases") [Wife 'trapped' in loveless marriage take battle for divorce to Supreme Court](https://vardags.com/family-law/wife-trapped-in-loveless-marriage-take-battle-for-divorce-to-supreme-court "Wife 'trapped' in loveless marriage take battle for divorce to Supreme Court") [MPs call for grandparents' rights](https://vardags.com/family-law/mps-call-for-grandparents-rights "MPs call for grandparents' rights") [Eventer Flora Harris joins Vardags Equestrian](https://vardags.com/posts/eventer-flora-harris-joins-vardags-equestrian "Eventer Flora Harris joins Vardags Equestrian") [Ayesha Vardag interviewed by Ed Miliband about divorce reform](https://vardags.com/posts/ayesha-vardag-interviewed-by-ed-miliband "Ayesha Vardag interviewed by Ed Miliband about divorce reform")