Divorce impacts the entire family, and when children are involved, that ripple effect can spread anxiety far and wide.

Grandparents, uncles and aunts, the second cousin who’s been part of the children’s lives since the day they came home from the hospital, all of them worried they won’t get to see the little ones they love.

The court recognizes that while parents are the foundation, supporting pillars such as grandparents, contribute to children’s welfare. To ensure that anyone important to the children can continue to be a part of their lives, the court can order contact between them.

Prior to March 1, 2021, anyone—parent or not—wishing for custody and/or access to the children of a marriage or relationship would apply to the courts for a Custody or Access Order. Since March 1st, parents apply for a Parenting Order, and everyone else important in the children’s lives applies for a Contact Order.

It doesn’t matter which parent the children are living with. It doesn’t matter if your ex-daughter-in-law swears you’ll never see your grandchildren again. It doesn’t matter if your ex-son-in-law thinks you only need to see the children at Christmas. If you are important to the children, you can apply for a Contact Order.

So yes, if you can prove that spending time with you is in their best interests, you can see your grandchildren.

If you would like to learn more about Contact Orders, and other changes that come with this new legislation, please reach out to us for a free consultation.