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Rights of a paternal grandmother
I recently received court papers from the parental grandparent of my son (18 months)
She is applying for unsupervised contact. I have not allowed her any contact due to her lifestyle... living with a man that has done 10 years in jail for armed robbery, has an alcohol problem and also been sectioned several times to my knowledge. I do not feel this is a safe environment for my son and they are not the type of people he needs in his life. I feel I must add that my sons father is not interested and we have had very little contact with him since December 2012.
I am representing myself in court as I do not qualify for legal aid, whilst she has a solicitor present at all hearings paid for by legal aid. At the last court hearing (Family magistrates court) I was told that as a mother I have no rights and if a judge makes an order I have no choice other than to abide to it. They have since referred it to 'District' so if I fail to adhere to the court order I can be served with a judicial sentence.
The courts advised that I cannot argue about her long term partner as he isn't named on the court application. They have done police checks on her and all come back ok so the court are saying that ii don't have a leg to stand on.
Can anybody help? Any advice would be greatly appreciated :-)
She is applying for unsupervised contact. I have not allowed her any contact due to her lifestyle... living with a man that has done 10 years in jail for armed robbery, has an alcohol problem and also been sectioned several times to my knowledge. I do not feel this is a safe environment for my son and they are not the type of people he needs in his life. I feel I must add that my sons father is not interested and we have had very little contact with him since December 2012.
I am representing myself in court as I do not qualify for legal aid, whilst she has a solicitor present at all hearings paid for by legal aid. At the last court hearing (Family magistrates court) I was told that as a mother I have no rights and if a judge makes an order I have no choice other than to abide to it. They have since referred it to 'District' so if I fail to adhere to the court order I can be served with a judicial sentence.
The courts advised that I cannot argue about her long term partner as he isn't named on the court application. They have done police checks on her and all come back ok so the court are saying that ii don't have a leg to stand on.
Can anybody help? Any advice would be greatly appreciated :-)
Unfortunately i cannot afford legal help as i only work part time, and a single mother. So frustrating as she has legal representation with legal aid! In respect of contact im not sure exactly what she wants.. all i know is she has requested it 'unsupervised' which scares the life out of me... my little boy is 18 months old and doesnt have the first clue of who she is, my feelings are that this would cause him massive distress. The judge on the last hearing didnt seem to agree.
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