A Residence Order says where a child should live.

Grandparents may apply for a residence order to have their grandchildren live with them, in certain circumstances.

The residence order must be applied for and granted by a court. A lawyer will need to be instructed to act on your behalf and complete the relevant documentation and potentially represent your interests in court hearings.

A residents order automatically grants parental responsibility to the person in whose favour it is made. Parental responsibility provides the legal rights, responsibilities and authority that a parent has in relation to their child.

By securing a residence order and therefore parental responsibility you are protecting yourself from the possibility that your grandchildren will be removed from your care.

Legal advice

Applying to the court for residence requires specialist help and advice. A number of complex legal issues have to be considered, a considerable amount of paperwork has to be prepared and the case may involve several court hearings. Legal fees can be between £1,500 and £8,000 depending on the particular circumstances of the case. We can advice on costs for your particular case in our free half hour telephone appointment.

Woolley and Co have specialist family lawyers with extensive experience of applying for residence orders and have helped many grandparents successfully achieve and maintain contact with their grandchildren. Contact us for an initial half hour telephone appointment in which we will discuss your options and explain the likely process and costs involved.