Family Law Experts React To Figures Showing Increase In Contact Concerns

Specialist family lawyers have urged couples going through a divorce to ensure the important role that grandparents play in the lives of children is not forgotten, after new research highlighted an increase in the number seeking guidance on contact issues.

According to figures from the Grandparents Association seen by the BBC, its helpline took 8,432 calls across 2014/15 and more than eight in ten calls related to relationship breakdown were linked to circumstances in which they were concerned after a son had split from a partner or wife.

Following the release of the research, Alison Hawes, a Partner and family law specialist at Irwin Mitchell, has urged couples seeking a separation to not just think about the consequences on their children, but also the implications that a split could have on grandparents.