The Role of Grandparents
With most families these days having both parents working – the childcare assistance that grandparents can provide often has them playing a big role in their grand-children’s lives. So – what happens if a couple separate and the grandparent can no longer see the grandchildren?
Naturally, negotiation and possibly, mediation should be the starting point, however if difficulties continue, grandparents are able to make an Application to the Court to “spend time” with a grandchild.
If a family situation is serious, a grandparent may obtain a Court Order allowing them to become the primary carer.
There is no set amount of time that a grandparent will receive – every case is different. The irony of the shared parenting laws that commenced in 2006 – promoting more equal sharing of time between parents – has, on average resulted in grandparents receiving less time than they did before the 2006 changes.
It is important to remember, that every family situation is different, so it is important to get Family Law advice.