Access rights for ex-partners ?

[Gogs33]

Hi All,
My daughters relationship has ended acrimoniously and the bf is trying to use child as a bargaining chip. She & our grandson have been staying with us as she’s been too afraid to return to her flat as her ex is unstable (smokes a lot of Pot) and still has keys. He’s been asking to have the child but then messing everyone and making various threats. She finally let him see him yesterday for a few hours but then he said he was keeping him for a few days. Today he is playing games again and saying he’s keeping him until the weekend. The child should be in nursery tomorrow and we’re not sure he will be bothered to take him. I’m looking to contact someone to discuss tomorrow but any advice/suggestions most welcome.

Is it his child? Is he on the birth certificate? If so, he has a right to parent his child.
Both parents need to come up with a schedule of care that meets the needs of the child. A mediator can help with this.
Has your daughter asked for child maintenance at all, if she has her son essentially all the time?
How old is the boy? Obviously if he's a baby and breastfeeding, it would be unreasonable to have him staying away from his mum.

Is bf on birth certificate? If so he has parental responsibility exactly same as your daughter. She’ll need to contact a solicitor tomorrow specialising in family law.

Assuming he’s on the birth certificate your daughter will need to contact a family law solicitor ASAP. In the meantime if your daughter is genuinely worried about her child’s safety she can contact the police they can do a welfare check on ex and child and if they think the child is actually at risk they can remove the child from his care. But only if the child is at risk in their assessment.

It’s not about “access” when arrangements it’s contact and residency. For example, I have soul residency of my children- they live with me only and they have contact with their dad (whenever he can be arsed in our case). In theory it’s about what is best for the child stuck in the middle. This ex is playing games using the child? Record everything, screenshot messages and when your daughter speaks to a solicitor make sure she’s talking about the child primarily. Don’t get sucked into his power play.

”her ex is unstable (smokes a lot of Pot)”
This is the most alarming bit imo.
How old is the child?
Your daughter needs to contact a family law solicitor for advice.

The parents have equal rights and will have to sort this out amongst themselves.

The parents have equal rights and will have to sort this out amongst themselves
Not true. It depends on the circumstances. Sometimes sorting it out themselves isn’t possible or advisable, hence the booming business of family law solicitors!