need help and advice regarding grandparents rights

[HannaLovesCake]

Hiya, I shall try to keep this short and sweet to save any confusion. My ex and I were together for the best part of three years on and off. We have a three year old daughter together and he was involved from 0-6months then nothing til 12-18months and it has now been another 18months without any of his family having any contact whatsoever with either me or my daughter. His mother has now decided that she wants contact dispite only ever seeing my daughter around a dozen times in her life.I've spoken to Citizens Advice and they've said that she could apply for a contact order and it could possibly go to court if it gets granted. I was wondering what are the chances of her request for a contact order getting approved and if it does, will the courts rule in her favour? I don't see why my daughter should be repeatedly picked up and put down when my exes mother thinks she can. My daughter has finally settled into a routine and is happy. I'm so worried that this will disrupt her and I honestly don't think that my exes family deserve the right to know her. I would really appreciate any advice or help on this

It's not about their right to know her but your child's right to know her family.

Titchy;

My daughter has twice been involved with her paternal family and twice she has been left and I've been the one to pick up the pieces. Its not fair on my daughters emotional well being to be walked in and out on.

And her right not to have contact with people who have already abandoned her and are likely to be a negative influence on her life.

That's how I'm thinking too. I don't see why my little girl should be subjected to contact centers or whatever when the family havent been interested in 18months. When we've been in town and seen the family, they've walked on by. I've always said that if my daughter wanted to see them when she's old enough (6+) then I'd be more than happy because it would be at her request but right now, I just don't see any positive benefits to having them involved because they've finally realized that she exists

I'm not legal, but i thin;

They'd have to prove to the court that they would have or have already had a significant role in their lives. Seeing as she's barely seen her I'd very much doubt she'd be granted a hearing.If her father can't be bothered it's all more than likely just words.

My mother threatened to take me to court to see my son last year nothing has materialised it's all talk.

WrappedInABlankie;

Thank you :) yeah, I've been doing large amounts of research on this the last few days and everything I've read says that the grandparent would have to prove they had a good relationship to the child but I've also read that contact orders are likely to be granted nowadays because 'grandparents are invaluable to children's lives'.

The father isn't interested at all and hasn't ever been particularly bothered (although that's not what he tells other people).

Yeah, Citizens Advice said its probably scare tactics but from what I know, she has the money to go to court and would probably do it despite if she did get visitation, the novelty would wear off after a few months and we'd be back to square one again

You may find because the father isn't interested they may take the stance of "someone from the Paternal side is showing interest so we'll give them a shot so she knows someone from that side"

She'd be spending lots of money if she had a solicitor £10,000ish for family law case. She'd have to go to mediation before court would hear the application from her where you could say you have 1 shot and 1 shot only, in a contact centre supervised with notes so it can be reviewed and monitored as she doesn't know you.

So she'd have to do

Mediation
apply to the court to apply for contact
IF it's granted then apply to court it could take a year or so before she even see's her.

If she's not had a lot of contact and it's ordered then you'll end up in a centre and that's about £70 an hour. if she's going to get bored you may find it's when she find out they don't just say here's your granddaughter for the day off you go and she'd have to pay for the privilege