42% of grandparents lose contact after parental separation

New research to be published this week by Families Need Fathers, The Grandparents Association and The Family Matters Institute has found that 42% of grandparents lose contact with their grandchildren after parental separation.

These three organisations will set out why they feel grandparents are so important to children and families in the 21st century. Even though grandparents can have extremely close bonds with their grandchildren and will often provide the majority of childcare whilst the children are young, these bonds can be shattered when the parents’ relationship breaks down. A grandparent will not have the automatic right to make an application to the court in the way that a parent can but they can seek permission to make an application, and the court will always put the best interests of the children first if they have to decide whether an order for contact with the child should be made.

Grandparents Association advice line (01279 444964); Grandparents Apart Self Help (0141 882 5658 or 01506 410 554)

Katie & Peter to Split? Or is this just more publicity?

Katie Price (Jordan) and Peter Andre are said to be separating after three and a half years of marriage. The couple has two children, Junior three and Princess Tiaamii, nearly two. Katie Price also has another son, Harvey six, from her previous relationship with footballer Dwight Yorke. The couple have spent their married life very much in the spotlight having featured in their own fly-on-the-wall TV show following their relationship since 2007. However, they have now said they want the media to respect their privacy in regard to the breakdown of their marriage. It will be interesting to see whether this is a genuine split for the celebrity couple who married in 2005 or just another publicity stunt!

If they are to go down the divorce route, how will their fortune be divided and where and with whom will the children live? They both had successful and lucrative careers and so had substantial financial assets before they met. However, since they married, they have built up assets jointly which they have both contributed to and this will need to be recognised when deciding how to divide the couple’s fortune, while at the same time paying particular regard to the needs and welfare of their children.

Yawning with boredom?

Currently the BBC news website says...

“UK house prices are continuing to fall sharply, according to the latest survey from the Halifax. The lender, now part of the Lloyds Banking Group, says prices fell by another 1.7% in April, pushing the annual decline from 17.5% to 17.7%. It means that the average UK property is now worth £154,716.00, £33,264.00 less than a year ago. The Halifax warned that house prices would probably continue falling in the coming months.”

Is anyone else just yawning with boredom on the subject? Well I am! I am trying hard not to be too optimistic but, frankly, the housing market is moving, not rapidly or providing so much work we don’t know what to do with ourselves but it is moving. Now we just have to get over the next barrier, no marketing of properties until a full home information pack is provided….thanks Mr Brown.