Can I keep a child away from their grandparents?

Grandparents often play a valuable role in a child’s life, but there are situations where a parent may wish to limit or prevent that involvement.

In England and Wales, the law is clear that parents have primary responsibility for decisions about their children’s upbringing, including who they spend time with. Unlike parents, grandparents do not have automatic rights of contact. This means that, in most circumstances, you can decide whether your child sees their grandparents.

If you choose to stop contact, grandparents do not have the same immediate legal rights as parents to challenge your decision. However, they can apply to the family court for permission to seek a child arrangements order that would allow them contact. The court must first decide whether to grant permission, taking into account the relationship between the child and the grandparents and whether there is a genuine connection worth preserving. If permission is granted, the court then considers whether contact is in the child’s best interests.

The court’s guiding principle is always the welfare of the child. If grandparents have played a significant role in the child’s life and cutting off contact would cause emotional harm, the court may order that contact continue in some form. On the other hand, if the relationship is limited, conflict is high, or the child’s welfare would be better served without contact, the court may refuse the application.

Parents sometimes worry that preventing grandparent contact could automatically lead to legal action, but in reality many cases never reach court. Grandparents may be reluctant to pursue formal proceedings due to cost and stress, and courts encourage families to resolve disputes amicably through mediation if possible. Parents are not required to justify every decision about contact, but if challenged in court, they must be able to show that their choice was made in the child’s best interests.

It is worth remembering that while you can legally keep your child away from grandparents in most situations, the court does have the power to intervene where there is evidence that continued contact is important for the child’s welfare.

The outcome of any application will depend on the strength of the existing relationship and the circumstances of the family.

If you are considering restricting grandparent contact and want to understand your rights, it is wise to seek legal advice.

Our family law solicitors can explain the law, assess the likelihood of a court challenge, and help you take steps that protect your child’s wellbeing.