In the modern era, the everyday care of young children can be somewhat complex, and will often involve a combination of parents, schools, nurseries, childminders, friends and grandparents. For busy mothers and fathers, it’s not easy to make sure all the right boxes are ticked in any given working week. Balancing the needs of their children with the needs of their jobs can often add to stress levels that are already too high.
Sadly, many couples don’t remain together right through the childhood years of their sons and daughters, and the end result of divorce or separation is often acrimonious. Inevitably, things can get yet more complicated. In far too many cases, we’ve seen grandparents lose out on seeing their grandchildren as often as they used to, or as often as they would like. It’s at times like these when emotions can understandably become ever higher.
In Scotland, a grandparent doesn’t have an automatic legal right to see their grandchildren. Usually, arrangements are set in place whereby they get to visit on a regular basis, but in many instances these meetings don’t happen. If it hasn’t been possible for you to see your grandsons and granddaughters, it could be time to speak with family law specialists in a bid to sort out the situation.
Here at MML Law, we’ve got the skills and experience to help you in your hour of need. As a general rule, we recommend trying to find a resolution through open communication with the parents, but of course there will be occasions when such an approach eventually fails. Opening options include mediation with an impartial, qualified specialist or, if necessary, seeking dispute resolution via Collaborative Family Law.
Commencing a court action for grandparents seeking the right to see their grandchildren is generally the final option, one that may be chosen when all else has failed. This avenue is often successful, but you should bear in mind that a court case has the potential to further damage an already fractious relationship with those involved. As always, the team at MML Law will talk you through all the potential options that may be open to you and will highlight the plus and minus points of each of them.
As a grandparent, being denied access to your cherished grandchildren can be immensely upsetting, especially if you were originally involved in childcare and suchlike. If you’re in this situation, you may be reluctant to initially approach legal specialists, but we can assure you that the team at MML Law will give you a sympathetic ear, a friendly approach and a clear explanation of what can and can’t be done.
Our focus at all times is on helping our clients to find an amicable solution, even in the most complex of cases. We realise that the situation you’re in will have already caused a great deal of upset, so our approach will be understanding from the very start. To find out more, get in touch with the team today on 01382 206 000. We hope to hear from you soon.
