Grandparents and maintenance
UNDER the law, grandparents have the legal obligation to maintain their minor or dependent adult grandchildren if their children (the parents of the grandchildren) fail to maintain them because they are incapable of doing so, or due to physical infirmity or mental incapacity.
‘Dependent adult grandchildren’ are those who are physically incapacitated or are so mentally deficient that they are incapable of caring for and maintaining themselves.
These obligations are embodied in the Maintenance Act.
Also, under the Maintenance Act, it is the duty of every adult grandchild to maintain his or her grandmother and grandfather whenever they are unable to maintain themselves.
Grandparents in such circumstances have the right to apply to the court for maintenance orders to be made ordering their grandchildren who may have refused, or neglected to provide for them, to pay whatever sums are ordered for their maintenance.
