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Grandparents do not have an automatic right to see their grandchildren. Normally, this is not an issue, but during a divorce access to the grandchildren can sometimes be denied. In the majority of cases where relationships with your in-laws were good prior to the divorce things clam down quickly and you get to see your grandchildren again fairly quickly. Be patient, but do not wait too long before tackling the issue.

By law only parents, stepparents, a guardian or a person with whom the child has lived for at least 3 years have the right to see the children. Basically, this means only people with parental rights to the child. So, if a grandparent wants to see their grandchildren they need to use their powers of persuasion rather than the law to achieve this, at least in the first instance.

When a divorce occurs, the best thing for grandparents to do is to not take sides, and continue to be available to see the grandchildren as normal. Doing this means that the habit of the grandparent being part of the child’s life just naturally continues and the issue of contact rights is not raised unnecessarily. If problems do occur tackle the issue quickly. Explain to the parent that you do not wish to take sides and are anxious to continue to help with the grandchildren. Work out when, how often and where it is convenient for you to see the grandchildren. If you are told seeing them on the first Saturday of the month is best, make sure you are available then. Be as flexible as you can be and keep any promises that you make.

If talking things through privately does not work then consider mediation. Both parties need to agree to meet to discuss things with the mediator. A good solicitor will have a list of independent mediators that you can use. Those solicitors that practice collaborative law are the best to use to find a mediator.

For the rare occasion where mediation fails you can ask the courts for help. For this you need a solicitor who has experience in cases involving contact rights for grandparents. The judge will need to be convinced that you have been a significant part of your grandchild’s life in the past and will continue to be so. You will also have to prove that you have been and will be a positive influence on the child’s life. Keep notes of all previous attempts you have made to ensure that you get to see your grandchildren, proving you have tried hard will help the judge to see that you are serious about seeing your grandchildren.

A good divorce solicitor can be invaluable if you need guidance and advice. Contact Lee & Priestley today, the top Yorkshire law firm who can advise on all aspects of divorce and family law.

Collaborative family law is a relatively new process designed to deal with family disputes. It can work particularly well if you and your partner are getting a divorce. Rather than work out the details of the divorce with phone calls and letters between your lawyers you all meet face to face and resolve any issues. Using this technique means a divorce can be completed without having to involve the courts.

You and your partner still appoint a lawyer each, thus ensuring that you both get independent legal advice and protect your individual interests. To start with each party meets with his or her own lawyer in private. Once it is agreed that collaborative law will be used, a 4-way meeting is set up for all to attend. Your lawyers will have explained the procedure and what to expect at the meeting before you attend.

During the first meeting the lawyers will establish that all present understand the process and agree to it. You will then be asked to sign an agreement to the effect that you are seeking a resolution without redress to the courts. The terms and format of the next meeting will be agreed, including what information is needed and who will bring it to the next meeting.

There are usually several subsequent meetings at which details of the final divorce terms will be agreed. These terms include financial arrangements, and how to handle child custody. Once you have agreed on the terms your lawyers will draw up the final agreement and schedule a last meeting to allow the agreement to be reviewed and signed.

At the final meeting the agreements will be reviewed and explained then signed. If any further action is needed then the time scales, and who will carry out these actions will be agreed.

To use collaborative law you need to use lawyers that are qualified to use it. As well as being fully trained in family law the lawyers will have also learnt how to help clients to stay calm and to quickly reach agreement. Using collaborative law usually leads to a less stressful divorce. The lawyers do not act as mediators, they are enablers. Cases that involve children particularly benefit from using the collaborative law process.

Looking to hire a gooddivorce solicitor? Visit Lee & Priestly, the Yorkshire law firm who can advise on all aspects of divorce and family law.

Getting a divorce is for most people one of the most stressful points in their life. The last thing they need is to find out part way through the process that they are using a solicitor who is not advising them well or who is dragging out the process. Choosing the right solicitor for your specific circumstances is vital.

First look at your circumstances, if your divorce is simple then it may be possible to do the divorce with very little help from a solicitor. If you decide that you need a solicitor make sure that you find one whose experience is relevant to your case. For example if you have suffered abuse or domestic violence, then your solicitor should have experience in dealing with these issues. If children are involved you need a solicitor that has previously dealt with divorces involving children.

At some point during the divorce process there are usually points of disagreement, which can quickly degenerate into long running arguments. Finding a Resolution accredited solicitor can help to make sure that points of disagreement are resolved quickly without them becoming issues that slow the process down and add to the distress and costs of the divorce. There are 5,500 Resolution accredited firms within the UK who follow a code of practice that promotes a non-confrontational approach to divorce.

Before settling on a solicitor speak to 2 or 3. Most solicitors offer a short initial consultation for a fixed fee or in some cases for free. Explain your situation to the solicitor and establish whether they have the relevant experience to deal with your case. Make sure that you choose a solicitor that you also feel comfortable with and whom you feel you can trust to act on your behalf. If you get 2 or 3 different opinions you will also better understand which courses of action are open to you.

During the initial consultation ask the solicitor to explain their fees, not all firms charge the same. Choosing a solicitor that you can afford will save you many months of stress.

Want to find out more about hiring a good divorce solicitor? Visit Lee & Priestly, the Yorkshire law firm who can advise on all aspects of divorce and family law.