Calderwood House, Montpellier Parade, Cheltenham GL50 1UA
If you are a grandparent who has lost contact with your grandchild, our family solicitors can advise you on your legal options. We can help you understand the position regarding contact, explore ways of resolving matters and, where necessary, assist with applications to the court for permission to seek contact.
Grandparent and Wider Family Advice
Losing contact with a grandchild can be particularly difficult when you have been closely involved in their care. You may not know why arrangements have stopped, how to approach the parents or if going to court would help. Our family solicitors assess the relationship and explain the legal options available to grandparents. We focus on the child's existing family connections and the practical arrangements that could preserve them, while taking concerns raised by parents or carers seriously.
Our legal team can make a measured contact proposal, advise on mediation and check if you need permission to apply to court. Where proceedings are necessary, we prepare evidence about your involvement, the child's routine and the contact sought. We also advise grandparents who are caring for a child in their own home. You receive a realistic assessment of the application, possible difficulties and likely costs before deciding how to proceed.
The law does not give grandparents automatic contact or parental responsibility. Many grandparents need the court's permission, known as leave, before applying for a child arrangements order. Some people have automatic standing because of an existing order, parental responsibility or the child living with them for a qualifying period, so the family history must be checked first.
At the permission stage, the court considers the nature of the proposed application, the grandparent's connection with the child and any risk that the application could disrupt the child's life to a harmful extent. If permission is granted, the court then considers the child's welfare when deciding the substantive arrangements.
The evidence should explain the history and quality of the relationship, frequency of care or contact, the child's wishes where appropriate, the reason contact stopped and the practical proposal now made. The court may ask Cafcass to undertake safeguarding checks or provide welfare advice.
A grandparent who has acted as a primary or substantial carer may have different issues from one seeking occasional contact. In some cases, a child arrangements order stating that the child lives with a grandparent, a special guardianship order or another route may require consideration. We identify the application that fits the actual care arrangement.
Permission can be refused where the connection with the child is limited, the proposed application is not clearly explained, or proceedings risk harmful disruption. At the welfare stage, a case can be weakened by focusing on an adult's entitlement, criticising the parents broadly, ignoring safety concerns or proposing arrangements that do not fit the child's age and routine.
A refusal does not follow simply because a parent objects. The court examines the evidence and the child's welfare. We help distinguish the valuable grandparent-grandchild relationship from the wider adult conflict and put forward realistic arrangements.
At 15 September 2026, the court fee for a new Children Act application is £270. The same application can ask for permission and the substantive child arrangements order where appropriate. Other potential costs include mediation, legal representation and a barrister for hearings.
Our fee depends on the history, urgency, safeguarding issues and level of agreement. We can advise on a limited stage or provide representation throughout, with the scope and estimate agreed in advance.
Grandparents Rights FAQs
Answers on permission to apply, mediation, the welfare test, urgent concerns and the costs of a Children Act application.
Grandparents do not normally have an automatic right to contact. The court can make child arrangements orders where the child's welfare supports them, often after permission to apply has been obtained. We assess your relationship and proposed contact before advising on negotiation, mediation or an application focused on the child's needs.
Many do, but some have standing under the statutory rules because of existing orders, consent or the child's living arrangements. The position must be checked individually. Permission and the final contact decision are different questions. We examine your care history and legal status before preparing the appropriate application.
A clear history of your involvement, the frequency and nature of care, and a realistic contact proposal can help. Relevant messages and records may explain why contact stopped. Focus on the child's experience and routine. Broad criticism of the parents rarely substitutes for evidence of how the proposed arrangements benefit the child.
Parents make many decisions for their children, but their objection does not automatically determine a court application. The court considers welfare and any risk of harmful disruption. We explore the reasons for refusal and the practical effect on the child before advising if a measured proposal or court proceedings are appropriate.
A MIAM is normally required before a C100 application unless a valid exemption applies. It allows assessment of possible non-court resolution and suitability. Mediation may help rebuild communication, but safety and willingness matter. We explain the requirement and any exemption rather than treating mediation as a guaranteed route to agreement.
Possibly, and your legal needs may extend beyond contact. The child's care history and any existing orders can affect standing and the appropriate application. A child arrangements order, special guardianship or another route may need consideration. We explain the powers and responsibilities involved before recommending how to formalise the arrangement.
Yes, proposals can include overnight stays or holidays where appropriate, but the court considers the child's age, routine, relationships and welfare. The previous pattern of care and practical travel arrangements matter. We help develop a specific proposal that explains frequency, handovers and any gradual introduction needed after a break in contact.
Immediate danger should be reported to the police, and safeguarding concerns may need referral to children's services. An urgent court application may also be relevant, but the right procedure depends on existing involvement and the protection required. We assess the evidence and your legal standing before advising on a particular order.
At September 2026 rates, a new Children Act application costs £270. Permission and substantive arrangements can be requested together where appropriate. Mediation, legal preparation and representation are separate. We explain the work required at the current stage and the likely costs of progressing to further hearings if agreement is not reached.
Check exactly what the order requires and keep a record of missed arrangements and the explanations given. Enforcement or variation may be appropriate. We assess the child's current circumstances and any reasonable excuse before advising on court action. An informal contact agreement has a different legal status from an enforceable order.
Tell us about your relationship with the child, why contact stopped and any current court order. We can assess the available approach and any permission required for an application.
Arrange a telephone call or visit our Cheltenham office by appointment. We assist clients in Cheltenham and the surrounding Gloucestershire area. We will explain the scope of work and legal fees before proceeding.
Call 0330 900 0377, email info@pembridgesolicitors.co.uk or request a consultation.
Pembridge Solicitors
Calderwood House, Montpellier Parade
Cheltenham GL50 1UA
Office visits by appointment.