28/08/2026
Sometimes the best parenting plan looks beyond Mom and Dad.
When parents separate, there are many practical decisions to make about where children will live, holidays, special occasions and how time will be shared.
But there may be other important relationships worth protecting too.
For many children, grandparents are a treasured part of their world. They can offer familiarity, stability, family traditions and, quite simply, another safe place where a child knows they are loved.
South African law places the best interests of the child at the heart of decisions concerning children. While grandparents do not automatically have the same parental rights and responsibilities as parents, the Children's Act does make provision for other interested persons to approach a court regarding care or contact where appropriate.
Ideally, however, it shouldn't have to become a fight.
When circumstances allow, parents can consider meaningful relationships with grandparents when developing a parenting plan—creating space for birthdays, holidays, visits and those ordinary afternoons together that often become some of childhood's most precious memories.
A thoughtful parenting plan isn't only about dividing time.
It's about preserving the relationships that help a child feel secure, connected and loved.
At Rohrs Duvenage Attorneys, we can help families develop practical parenting arrangements with the wellbeing of the children firmly at the centre.
