[amawilliams]

Is this website only for the States? I am in BGt Britain and have this problem

[Wondergirl]

This site takes in questions from people around the world. Many of our long-time members and experts live in Canada, Europe, the U.K. and Australia. We get many questions from people living in India.

Please ask, and we will do our best to answer your question!

[ScottGem]

The UK has no formal recognition of grandparent rights. However, courts have, more recently, been more sympathetic.

You can try explaining the situation and we can give you our take on it. But you will probably have to consult a solicitor

[GV70]

Firstly-grandparents do not have an automatic right to contact with their grandchildren in the UK
2.Only a person who has legal custody / it is called Parental Responsibility / may file in court for visitation/ it is called Contact Order in the UK/
3. You have right to apply for permission to apply for a Contact Order .

[amawilliams]

Hi thank both.

Yes we have applied for the contact order and are at court January 11th.
My daughter has said she is going to makes sure that I get no more than 1 hr per week!!

[Wondergirl]

My daughter has said she is going to makes sure that I get no more than 1 hr per week!!!

What's going on in your daughter's head regarding contact?

[ScottGem]

What happened? Why is your daughter doing this?

[amawilliams]

It's a long story really but the top and bottom of it is I struggle to get on with her husband. They married this year and we went to the wedding but I left straight after the dinner. Her H is an alcoholic and can't hold a job down and is out every chance her can get with his mates. Having said that believe it or not he really isn't a bad person he has been texting me and he is happy about us seeing GS but my D isn't. She went looking for her Real F 6 years ago now despite me trying to talk her out of it and he set up all sorts of finance in her name so me and my husband paid for her to bankrupt and she has never seen him since. I really believe this is the real factor as she says she is going to treat me the same as him. I went round to her house 4 weeks ago and tried to hold her. I told her I am not her father I am her Mother I love her and I wasn't going anywhere. She just screamed at me, hitting me telling me I was dead. I just had to walk away at that point I was distraught. I am on 300mg antidepressants and have panic attacks but still managing to go to work. We have the contact order through a Solicitor from the courts for 11th Jan 2012. She knows this. She has refused mediation.

[GV70]

The show must go on...

According to The Children Act 1989
Children Act 1989
Rights to apply for contact order have only those who have parental responsibility / that means Legal custody/.
Grandparents have right to apply for permission to apply for a Contact Order .
I am not sure that the OP told the truth.

Court proceedings

If none of the above are practical or possible you may make an application to the court. Unlike parents, a grandparent does not have an automatic right to apply for a contact order and will have to apply for leave to make that application. In order to be successful the grandparent must show that they have a meaningful and important connection with the child.
Once you have been granted leave then your application for contact will be considered. Frequently this will involve the appointment of a Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) officer to look at any welfare issues that need to be considered and to prepare a report to aid the court in coming to a decision.
If the report is favourable it is often very strongly persuasive to the parent with care but if they still will not agree then there will be a full hearing with both sides giving evidence and the court making a decision on the basis of what they feel to be in the child's best interests. You will need to convince the court that your relationship with the grandchild significantly benefits their lives.
Source: http://www.family-lawfirm.co.uk/Arti...ts-rights.aspx