Court Ordered Access and Covid (Grandparents)

[Juststopamoment]

I’m posting here (and Legal) because I’m a single parent and the GPs son was the children’s father and he died. We were separated when he died.

Just wondering how child access agreements are being dealt with during this time. The GPs are saying that they are cancelling their visit because it’s not possible because of the new regulations. They are feigning concern for my health but they are in their mid to late 70s so it’s their health as well.

They want to replace it with a Zoom call on top of their numerous other Zoom calls on alternate months and Christmas and Easter and Birthdays. The visit will then be rescheduled for another time.

My concern is that the additional Zoom calls and rescheduled visits is going to seriously encroach on our lives maybe even going to twice a month next year. At the moment they see them every 6 weeks.

Any suggestions what I can do or what have people done?

Thanks.

Child access arrangements are not affected by any new restrictions.

Surely if they don't visit, they can't bank that visit to reschedule when Covid is over.

Either they visit or they don't. Covid still allows child access. If they choose not to, that's up to them.

Tell them you disagree. But also that you understand their concerns about their health and should they choose not to take up previously agreed visits you will accommodate a zoom call during the time they should be seeing the children but will not agree to them having extra next year.

I'm not sure zoom calls on alternate months, Christmas, Easter and birthdays are exactly numerous though.

You don't seem to like the GP much do you OP?

Numerous calls - every other month and on special occasions?
Twice monthly zoom calls seriously encroaching on your lives?

Really? They don't sound like they are in your pockets at all.

I need to know the back history but twice a month calls really doesn’t sound onerous.

How old are the dc? How much do you need to supervise the calls? Unless they are really toxic I would probably pick an evening and say right Wednesday night, 5-5.30 you chat to grandparents while I get the dinner ready. How often do the dc see your parents? It is one of their links with their father so although legally maybe hard to enforce it would be good for them to have that connection. Not plausible to make up missed contact though as there will be lots of other things to catch up on post covid.

Agree with pp.
It hardly sounds like they are taking over

As it's court ordered contact, am guessing there's a back story and the OP has concerns about their ability to stick to boundaries etc?

I can only imagine what you have had to go through with the Grand parents if there is a court order regarding visitation with your DC. Must be a hell of a back story.

As above posters have pointed out, visitation is still permitted do do as above, they’re welcome to visit as per court order but understand if they choose to forgo scheduled arrangement, that is their choice but the court ordered arrangement still stands without any variation.

Oh there is a lot of back story. Making false allegations to the police and social services to cover up for their son’s drug and alcohol use. In fact I have to get a neighbour to hand over my children in case they make things up against me again. Two false allegations of assault and the grandmother followed me to school while being verbally abusive. There’s more but I have had a non molestation order against the grandmother in the past. They were given minimal contact because of this and I don’t want it to exceed what they have been given. Needless to say I opposed it but had to let them because as a single parent I don’t have the money to go to court. Also they are withholding the small amount of money not in trust as a means to exert control over me.

Thank you Adorethebeach. That’s very useful advice. I will follow that.

So its nothing to do with their request but all about a huge backstory

Sorry Juststopamoment I was very harsh earlier without benefit of the back story. Sounds absolutely awful for you.

During lockdown I hated the zoom calls, it was an invasion of my privacy and my home by someone whom i dislike intensely. Also because my children are young i had to be in the vicinity and I hated hearing them and i had to ask dc not to walk around the house whilst on the calls. I was so glad when they finished. I say this as I'm guessing this might be a reason you don't want to further accommodate them in this way and i just wanted to send

Just they may well get court access too if you went to court. I’ve just seen it happen with a family member even through the grandmother seriously assaulted the mother in front of the children.

I agree with Adore this isn’t your issue to fix just because they want to rearrange arrangements.

I feel your pain op, video calls suck. As above have said Covid doesn’t actually effect contact. I’d do as others have suggested if they don’t wish to use their agreed contact time then that’s fine and their choice, you will accommodate a zoom call at that time for X minutes but they can’t bank the time they didn’t have for the future

What @AnnaMagnani said. If they don’t want contact now - tough. Say no to Zoom calls. I don’t believe they are court ordered. This isn’t your issue to sort out.

@dementedpixie

Child access arrangements are not affected by any new restrictions.

if you saw boris answer the question to this the other day on briefing - yes it is.

if you are in tier 2 say, kids are in 3, he suggested this does not go ahead.

Yes but he generally talks crap tbh

Boris was wrong

Did anyone see what that deleted post said? DM me if you did.

i didn't see the post but post has been deleted on lots of threads on LP so I don't think it was anything directly related to you.

Ok thank you Starlight.