Nearly a third of couples with children who separate consult their own parents for advice, a survey showed yesterday.

Around 30 per cent of people with children aged under 18 said they had turned to their mother and father for help, compared with 27 per cent who consulted a solicitor, according to the free support service Child Maintenance Options.

Overall, 60 per cent of people who went through a separation said they discussed their situation with their parents, siblings and friends.

The group said it had decided to publish a Grandparents Guide to Child Maintenance to help people ensure their grandchildren were properly provided for following a divorce or separation.

Janet Paraskeva, chairman of the Child Maintenance Options, said: "More and more grandparents and other members of the family and friends of separating couples are calling our helpline, seeking guidance on their behalf."

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