[Mike Tyson]

I was wondering if anybody had any advice/experience of what rights Grandparents have?

Basically me and the Mrs have not spoken to her parents since Christmas 2008. There was a misunderstanding that led to us not speaking. I won't bore you with the all the details but to cut a long story short we do not believe my mother in law is mentally sound (I know a lot of people think this of their in laws but we are genuinely sure she is) and subsequentally do not want her or her husband any where near our child. Prior to the disagreement they did see our child on an all most daily basis and did assist with child care. We have found alternative arrangements now however.

We recently received a letter from their solicitors requesting access to our child. I have done the google thing but it brings back a lot of varied responses. Some say they have rights others say they have no more than the next person in the street.

Ultimately we do not want them involved in our daughters life. It's not a nice thing by any stretch of the imagination but we feel until she is old enough to make her own mind up that no contact should be possible. Has anybody got any experience of a situation like this or had to deal with anything similar in their lives?

Thanks in advance.

[dave]

just off the top of my head, I wouldn't have thought they have any implicit rights as such. You and your trouble&strife are the legal guardians of your child afterall.

[a dense loner]

would have thought your child had nothing to do with them whatsoever. am sure sloper will know more but i think he's busy at the moment doing some students dissertations

[hairich]

if i remember rightly there is some case law precedent for this. a few years ago some g parents sued to see a g child and won.check with sloper or go to the cab for some free legal advice.

cheers rich

[Mike Tyson]

just off the top of my head, I wouldn't have thought they have any implicit rights as such. You and your trouble&strife are the legal guardians of your child afterall.

I initially had the same thought, but I'm not sure it is as cut and dry as that. You would figure if we do not want them to see her, that they would have no choice but I have a nasty feeling it may be more complex.

[soapy]

did you have a look here, golt?

[robertostallioni]

This was the best thing I could find.
Click on the download podcast option. Sound advice I reckon.
Loxleys podcast

[Graeme78]

When my brother split with his ex he had a load of hassle getting access to his son. And as we found out at the time the Grandparent's certainly don't have any access to the child. As Dave says you are the legal guardian of the child, from what I can gather child will only be put in the care of another relative if they have cause to believe that you are providing an insufficient standard of care. I wouldn't be too worried about a letter from the solicitor's they're probably just trying to shock you into doing something.

Sorry if I've gone off topic I don't want to start a social services discussion.

[Bubba]

Just echoing above comments and after doing some digging - I wouldn't worry about the solicitor's letter - they're just trying it on.

If I were in your place I'd try to ignore it completely and hope that they got the message that you're not going to be intimidated by their tactics.

Hope it works out, sounds like a horrible situation

[GCW]

I suspect that even if they try to push it, you'll be OK if you have evidence that the Mother in Law may not be of sound mind, or potentially a risk to your child.

Other than that, I will await Sloper's opinion.