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Grandparent access agreement proposed in law review | Grandparent access agreement proposed in law review |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Agreements allowing grandparents access to their grandchildren after parents split up are being proposed in a review of the law in England and Wales. | Agreements allowing grandparents access to their grandchildren after parents split up are being proposed in a review of the law in England and Wales. |
The family justice review will suggest a "statement in law" about the importance of both parents having a relationship with their children. | The family justice review will suggest a "statement in law" about the importance of both parents having a relationship with their children. |
The interim report said such agreements should also "reinforce the importance of a relationship with grandparents". | The interim report said such agreements should also "reinforce the importance of a relationship with grandparents". |
Report author David Norgrove said the interests of children was the priority. | Report author David Norgrove said the interests of children was the priority. |
Currently grandparents have no contact rights in law, and the review's recommendations stop short of giving them any legal right of access. | Currently grandparents have no contact rights in law, and the review's recommendations stop short of giving them any legal right of access. |
Mr Norgrove said the law was "too blunt an instrument" and giving grandparents such rights could damage the children involved. | Mr Norgrove said the law was "too blunt an instrument" and giving grandparents such rights could damage the children involved. |
Out-of-court agreement | Out-of-court agreement |
A public consultation on these proposals is now under way, while the review will make its final recommendations in the autumn. | A public consultation on these proposals is now under way, while the review will make its final recommendations in the autumn. |
The review's panel spent a year speaking to children, parents and those who work in family justice. | The review's panel spent a year speaking to children, parents and those who work in family justice. |
It found that the system was not working to the full benefit of the children it is designed to help. | It found that the system was not working to the full benefit of the children it is designed to help. |
The report calls for a simpler service for families which are separating, "aimed at helping them to focus on their children and to reach agreement, if possible without going to court". | The report calls for a simpler service for families which are separating, "aimed at helping them to focus on their children and to reach agreement, if possible without going to court". |
It also recommends the use of Parenting Agreements, which would bring together arrangements for children's care after separation and focusing on where the child spends time. | It also recommends the use of Parenting Agreements, which would bring together arrangements for children's care after separation and focusing on where the child spends time. |
It would also "reinforce the importance of a relationship with grandparents and other relatives and friends who the child values". | It would also "reinforce the importance of a relationship with grandparents and other relatives and friends who the child values". |
Other recommendations include: | Other recommendations include: |
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Mr Norgrove, a former civil servant, said the biggest obstacle he had found in the system was that "people don't work together". | Mr Norgrove, a former civil servant, said the biggest obstacle he had found in the system was that "people don't work together". |
"There are lots of very committed and very able people in the family justice system and we have got a lot to be proud of. But there are a huge number of institutions and people involved in it and they are not brought together into any kind of coherent system." | "There are lots of very committed and very able people in the family justice system and we have got a lot to be proud of. But there are a huge number of institutions and people involved in it and they are not brought together into any kind of coherent system." |
He added: "Family justice is under huge strain. Cases take far too long and delays are likely to rise. Children can wait well over a year for their futures to be settled. This is shocking." | He added: "Family justice is under huge strain. Cases take far too long and delays are likely to rise. Children can wait well over a year for their futures to be settled. This is shocking." |
In 2009, just under 114,000 divorces were registered in England and Wales. | In 2009, just under 114,000 divorces were registered in England and Wales. |
The family justice systems in Scotland and Northern Ireland are overseen by the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive. | The family justice systems in Scotland and Northern Ireland are overseen by the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive. |
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