The Tees Family Law team was instructed by the paternal grandparents of 12-year-old Jake* in Children Act proceedings, following serious concerns about his welfare while in the care of his mother.
For context:
An existing court order was in place specifying that Jake should live with his mother and spend alternate weekends and half of the school holidays with his father. However, in light of emerging safeguarding issues, Jake’s grandparents initially applied for him to live with them. As the case developed, their application was amended to support Jake’s father in seeking for the child to relocate and live with him in the Midlands.
The matter quickly became complex, involving evidence from multiple local authorities, police forces, and medical professionals. The mother, who acted in person throughout, routinely failed to comply with court directions or provide evidence, which created further delay and difficulty.
What happened next:
In response to an interim local authority report, the court made temporary arrangements for Jake to live with his grandparents during the school week—providing much-needed stability while longer-term decisions were considered.
Throughout the case, the Tees team focused on maintaining a cooperative, child-focused approach. While the grandparents’ position had evolved, our lawyers ensured that their case was consistently presented in a way that prioritised Jake’s best interests. Managing communication with unrepresented parties required particular care to avoid any confusion around legal responsibilities or representation.
Giving you the full picture:
The case concluded in winter 2023 after a two-day final hearing. The court overturned the existing order, ruling that Jake should move to the Midlands to live with his father at the start of the new school term. In the meantime, and during the Christmas holiday period, Jake would remain in the care of his grandparents.
This outcome provided a clear and positive way forward for the child and reflected the strength of the evidence and the consistent, measured approach taken by Tees throughout the proceedings.
If you need some advice and support around complex family law issues, please contact Caroline Andrews or any of the Family team at Tees.
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.
