legal

children and the law

Parental responsibilities and rights (PRRs) are in basic terms, fundamental rights that a parent has in respect of their child. In spite of their name, not all parents have responsibilities and rights over their children. This may be due to a number of factors and the Court has the authority to take away some or all of these responsibilities and rights. Parental responsibilities and rights exist up until the child reaches the age of 16 years old, but there is a responsibility to provide guidance to a child up to the age of 18 years old. When a child is born its mother automatically has full parental responsibilities and rights. Full PRRs also automatically apply to a child’s father if he is married to the child’s mother at any point from the child’s conception onwards (it does not matter whether the marriage occurs prior to or after the birth of the child) or if he is registered as the child’s father (i.e his name is on the child’s Birth Certificate) after the 4th May 2006. If that is the case he will have full PRRs even if he is not married to the child’s mother. An individual known as a guardian may also have full PRRs if they have been appointed as a guardian in the Will of the parent who has now deceased.

Parental responsibilities and rights tend to concern everyday things in a child’s life and include rights and responsibilities as follows:-

• To determine where the child lives and those with whom the child will have contact with.
• Preserving and enhancing the child’s health and development which involves having regard to the child’s health and education requirements, and generally ensuring that the child’s welfare is protected.
• To make decisions as to a child’s lifestyle and how they are to be brought up. This may relate to any particular religion the child will follow. Additionally there is a right to control, direct or guide the child’s upbringing, which influence may decrease as the child gets older.
• Being the child’s legal representative

Under Scots law, anyone who can ‘claim an interest’ is able to apply for PRRs in respect of a child which tends to mean anyone who may have an interest in the child’s welfare. Relatives who may apply for PRRs may include grandparents, aunts, uncles and step-parents, but that list is not exhaustive. The child also has the power to make a Court application in respect of an order for PRRs.

It is often the case that a person will apply for PRRs when a child’s parents cannot fully exercise their PRRs or have had them taken away. The Court will always look at the welfare of the child which is a paramount consideration, before granting any PRRs in relation to a child.

If you wish advice regarding PRRs in respect of a child please contact us and we will be happy to discuss this with you.

What about grandparent rights?

With divorce and separation on the rise, sadly, it is not unusual for one set of grandparents to end up losing contact with their grandchildren when parties divorce.

In Scotland, often grandparents lose contact with their grandchildren following upon divorce. Up until that point, grandparents will often have been emotionally and financially involved in child’s life and play a crucial part in their lives, but find themselves feeling totally powerless and without contact post separation. In this event, there are options available to grandparents to reinstate contact.

Does the law provide any rights for grandparents to have contact with their grandchildren?

Unfortunately, Scots law makes no explicit or automatic provision for grandparents to have contact with their grandchildren. There is however, an option to obtain an order from the court for contact, should a Sheriff find it in the child’s best interests for contact to take place.

What can I do if I am having problem achieving contact with my grandchildren?

In the first instance, you should attempt to negotiate a contact arrangement with the children’s parents. If all else fails, then you could consider raising a court action for contact.

Grandparents are often able to assist with care arrangements for children, and being a free resource, this can reduce childcare costs for parents. If they previously looked after the children whilst the parents were at work they may not have realised the benefit of allowing contact to continue to operate post separation. It is therefor worth pointing this out to the parents.

Time is really of the essence and you should ensure you reinitiate contact with your grandchildren as soon as possible after separation. You do not want to give the opposing side any scope to argue that the children don’t remember you and that it would be upsetting or confusing for you to be reintroduce into their lives. These arguments may not carry weight, but it is best to avoid allowing them the chance to be used.

Where negotiation is unsuccessful, it may be worthwhile considering attending mediation. Mediation is a platform which allows parties to open up and vent any concerns, with a view to achieving flexible solutions to contact issues. The mediator is an impartial person who is there to unravel issues and come to a joint solution. If a child is older, it may be appropriate to include them in the mediation sessions to allow them to contribute their own views. Sometimes negotiation and mediation do not work and in that case it may be appropriate to consider court action.

How do I attain a court order?

Although it is recognised that grandparents can play an important role in a child’s life, the law does not set out contact rights for grandparents. Yet, the courts understand the role grandparents can play in a child’s development and stability.

It is generally considered that children having regular and consistent contact with grandparents can be beneficial to the child. Under the law in Scotland, a grandparent can apply to the court for contact with their grandchildren. The test that the court considers is the same as when a biological parent seeks contact with their child. It is the welfare of the child that is the court’s paramount consideration. An order will be made by the court only if the Sheriff considers it would be better for the child to have the order made than for no order to be made at all. The views of the child may be considered by the court, depending on the child’s age and level of maturity.