We’re encouraging people to remember the importance of grandparents in children’s lives as part of the nation’s Silver Sunday celebrations this weekend (October 4, 2020).
People often underestimate the bond grandparents have with their grandchildren and their stabilising influence, especially when parents separate or divorce.
Silver Sunday is a national event designed to celebrate the older generation and their role in our society. We hope those with children thinking about divorcing or separating recognise it’s vital they have contact with their grandparents. This also includes other important extended family members, who have had a significant role in their lives so far.
We appreciate the lockdown and subsequent ongoing restrictions are already putting a strain on visits to older relatives. This will be impacting on both grandparents and grandchildren, who would normally see a lot of each other. HRH the Duchess of Cornwall, who supports Silver Sunday, spoke herself on television about the sadness of not seeing her own grandchildren.
After the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, households in areas where there are ‘local lockdowns’ are not allowed to meet. However, informal childcare arrangements, including those provided by grandparents, are exempt from this new rule.
Many grandparents now have more regular contact with their grandchildren than they might have had in the past. This is often due to fulltime childcare costs. They often act as childminders during the week to help their working children out. This creates a strong bond between them.
Grandparents and childcare
In 2017, a YouGov poll for the charity Age UK revealed that two-fifths (40%) of the nation’s grandparents have provided regular childcare for their grandchildren. This is now thought to have increased.
However, what then happens when parents’ separate? How are those grandparent relationships maintained for the benefit of the children?
Usually, both parents respect the grandparents’ relationship with the children and do all they can to maintain it in the future. This will help the children feel more secure during their parents’ separation.
Problems can arise, when, after separation, one parent struggles to have a relationship with their children.
During any court application, the court will inevitably focus on the parent’s relationship with the children, not the grandparents’ or other family members. In extreme cases, a parent can lose contact with their children. This can mean the grandparents can also lose their relationship with their grandchildren too.
The knock-on effect for the children is that they lose half of their wider family and identity. It’s important to seek expert advice on how best to handle these situations. We’re here, ready to listen and happy to offer our professional, expert help to any families in need of assistance.
Wherever possible, we’ll help parents reach a voluntary agreement over the arrangements for their child. But, if court action is required, as barristers, we can provide the experienced representation a parent needs for every stage of the proceedings, from initial advice, drafting an application to the court, representation at hearings anywhere in England & Wales and preparation of witness statements and evidence.
However, as a parent you may just need one meeting with us so we can give you advice and guidance on the best way forward for you and your child.
Please get in touch for any help or advice.