Contact with grandchildren

Losing contact with a grandchild can be deeply upsetting. Separation, family disagreements or changes in caring arrangements can leave grandparents uncertain about how to maintain an important relationship.

Grandparents do not have automatic legal rights to contact with their grandchildren in England and Wales, but there are ways to initiate or restore that relationship. At JMW, our solicitors advise on negotiating contact, resolving family disputes and applying for court orders where necessary.

We provide practical advice focused on the child's welfare and stability. To discuss your circumstances in confidence, call 0345 872 6666 or complete our online enquiry form.

How JMW can help

When family relationships break down, grandparents need to know what arrangements are realistic and how to make progress when communication with the child's parents has become difficult.

Our specialist family law solicitors advise on contact disputes and long-term care. We can help by:

• Assessing your legal position: reviewing your relationship with your grandchild, the reasons contact has changed and the options available under family law.
• Negotiating contact arrangements: communicating with parents or their solicitors to work towards regular, practical contact without unnecessary conflict.
• Advising alongside family mediation: helping you prepare for discussions, consider proposals and understand whether a proposed arrangement meets your grandchild's needs.
• Applying for child arrangements orders: advising on whether court permission is needed, preparing applications and presenting your case.
• Representing you in court: responding to objections, addressing welfare concerns and putting forward evidence to support appropriate arrangements.
• Reviewing existing arrangements: advising where agreed contact has stopped, circumstances have changed or an existing court order is not being followed.

We aim to resolve matters constructively, with measured court representation where necessary. Your grandchild's best interests remain central.

Meet our team

Our family law team advises grandparents and other family members on contact disputes and child arrangements, combining clear guidance with experienced court representation.

What legal rights do grandparents have to see their grandchildren?

In England and Wales, grandparents have no automatic legal right to see their grandchildren. However, they can seek agreement with the child's parents or ask the family court to consider contact arrangements.

Under the Children Act 1989, the child's welfare is the court's paramount consideration when deciding whether to make a child arrangements order. A close, established relationship with grandparents can be relevant, but the court considers what is right for the individual child rather than assuming contact should take place.

Our grandparents’ rights solicitors can assess your legal position, explain whether you need permission to apply to the court and advise on the approach most likely to support a workable outcome. For a wider explanation of the law, see our article on rights to contact with grandchildren.

What can grandparents do if they are denied contact with their grandchildren?

If you have been denied access to your grandchildren, you may be able to restore contact through direct agreement, solicitor-led negotiation, family mediation or a child arrangements order. The appropriate approach will depend on why contact stopped, your existing relationship with the child and any concerns raised by their parents or carers.

Disputes may follow parental separation, the death of a parent or disagreements within the wider family. Contact can diminish gradually or stop without warning.

We review previous arrangements, communicate with one or both parents, address objections and gather relevant evidence of your role in your grandchild's life. We focus on a proportionate solution that puts the child's needs ahead of disagreements between adults.

Where negotiations do not produce an agreement, we can advise on a court application and represent you throughout the proceedings. Early legal advice can also help where contact has never been established or where safeguarding concerns make discussions more sensitive.

Can grandparents arrange contact without going to court?

Many grandparents can reach an agreement about contact without a court hearing, either through discussions with the child's parents or with the help of family mediation. An agreement may cover regular visits, special occasions, holidays or indirect contact through phone and video calls.

Family mediation allows discussions with an independent mediator and can help when communication has deteriorated. The mediator is impartial and cannot give individual legal advice.

JMW can provide independent advice before, during and after mediation. We help you identify realistic arrangements, consider the effect of any proposals on your relationship with your grandchild and clarify what should happen if circumstances change. If an agreement needs to be reflected in a court order, we can advise on the appropriate steps.

Where mediation is unsuitable or the parties cannot agree, we can help you decide whether an application to the family court is appropriate. Read more about our legal services relating to family mediation.

How can grandparents apply for a child arrangements order?

A child arrangements order can specify when a grandchild spends time with a grandparent and what other contact takes place. It provides a legal framework where informal arrangements are no longer possible.

Grandparents generally need the court's permission before applying for a child arrangements order, although there are exceptions, including some circumstances where a child has lived with them. Permission to apply does not mean that the court has already decided contact should take place.

Applying for permission to bring proceedings

The court considers factors such as the nature of the proposed application, your connection with the child and whether the application could disrupt the child's life in a harmful way. We advise on whether you need permission, prepare the necessary application and explain how the evidence of your existing relationship may be relevant.

Representation during child arrangements proceedings

If the application proceeds, our solicitors manage the legal work involved in presenting your case. We can prepare documents, respond to concerns raised by the child's parents, address safeguarding issues and represent you at hearings. We also advise on proposals for direct or indirect contact, including gradual or supported arrangements where appropriate.

We seek practical, child-focused arrangements. Read more about JMW's child arrangement order services.

How does the court decide whether grandparents can see their grandchildren?

When deciding whether to make a child arrangements order, the court's paramount consideration is the child's welfare. Grandparents' wishes matter, but no adult has an automatic entitlement to contact. The court looks at the child's individual circumstances and whether the proposed arrangements are in their best interests.

Relevant factors may include:

• The child's wishes and feelings, taking account of their age and understanding.
• Their physical, emotional and educational needs.
• The strength and history of their relationship with their grandparents.
• How any change in contact might affect their stability and routine.
• Any risk of harm, including concerns about domestic abuse or other safeguarding matters.
• The ability of the adults involved to meet the child's needs.

Our solicitors help grandparents understand how these considerations apply to their case. We can present relevant evidence of your involvement in the child's life, respond to welfare concerns and advise on arrangements that reflect the child's circumstances. This may involve regular visits, carefully structured contact or other arrangements that help maintain important family relationships safely.

Why choose JMW?

JMW has more than 40 specialist family lawyers based in Manchester, Liverpool and London, advising clients nationally and internationally. Our family law team is recognised by leading legal directories, including the Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and Spear’s 500, reflecting its experience in complex and sensitive family matters.

We have established experience helping grandparents restore contact and advising other family members on child arrangements. We take a direct, pragmatic approach to securing workable outcomes.

We combine constructive negotiation and mediation advice with representation in contested court proceedings. Whatever your circumstances, we take time to understand the relationship you want to protect and keep the child's welfare at the centre of our advice.

Q

Do grandparents have automatic parental responsibility?

A

Grandparents do not automatically have parental responsibility simply because of their relationship to a child. However, a grandparent may acquire parental responsibility through certain court orders, including a child arrangements order specifying that the child lives with them or a special guardianship order.

Q

Do grandparents need permission from the court to apply for contact?

A

Grandparents generally need the court's permission to apply for a child arrangements order, although exceptions apply. For example, a grandparent who has been caring for a child may qualify to apply without permission, depending on the circumstances. The court's decision on permission is separate from whether contact will ultimately be ordered.

Q

Do grandparents have to attend mediation before going to court?

A

You will usually need to attend a mediation information and assessment meeting (MIAM) before making a relevant application, unless an exemption applies. This is an initial meeting to consider whether mediation is suitable; it does not require you to reach an agreement. Exemptions may apply in cases involving domestic abuse, urgent risks or other specified circumstances. We can advise on the requirements for your application.

Q

Do paternal grandparents have the same rights as maternal grandparents?

A

The law in England and Wales does not generally give maternal grandparents greater contact rights than paternal grandparents, or vice versa. The same principles apply when considering applications involving either side of the family. What matters is the child's welfare and the circumstances of the proposed contact, not whether the grandparent is related through the child's mother or father.

Q

Can grandparents apply for contact if they have never met their grandchild?

A

An existing relationship can be important when the court considers permission and contact, but its absence does not automatically prevent a grandparent from seeking legal advice or making an application. The court will consider the child's circumstances and the potential impact of establishing contact. We can assess whether an application is appropriate and what arrangements could realistically be proposed.

Q

What types of contact can grandparents arrange with their grandchildren?

A

Contact can be direct, such as visits or time spent together, or indirect, such as letters, phone calls and video calls. Depending on the child's needs, arrangements may involve regular contact, a gradual introduction or supervised sessions. There is no fixed amount of time grandparents are entitled to receive; arrangements should reflect what is appropriate for the individual child.

Q

How much does it cost to apply for grandparents' contact rights?

A

The current court fee for a new application under the Children Act 1989, including an application for a child arrangements order or permission to apply, is £270. Solicitors' fees and other costs are separate and depend on the work involved. Some applicants may qualify for Help with Fees. We can discuss likely costs with you at the outset. See the official family court fees guidance for the latest fee.