Family in Grenada

Grenada has no single family ministry or universal family-service system. Different needs are handled by the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Social & Community Development, Housing and Gender Affairs, the Child Protection Authority, the National Insurance Scheme and the Magistrates' Courts or High Court. Kin, community, faith-based and nongovernmental organisations also provide care and support, especially where formal services are limited. A couple seeking formal marriage applies for a Marriage Licence through the Cabinet Office and follows its application steps. A reliable current public fee and standard processing time were not established. A common-law spouse can qualify for some National Insurance Scheme (NIS) benefits, so the legal relationship and supporting records can affect a claim. Parents and guardians have responsibilities for care, protection and financial maintenance. The Child Protection Authority (CPA), under the Child (Protection and Adoption) Act, Cap. 44A, can assess and investigate concerns involving abuse, neglect, abandonment or a child exposed to domestic violence. Depending on the circumstances, the CPA may seek emergency protection, care or supervision orders, foster or residential placement, or adoption proceedings through the Adoption Committee and the adoption register. Child protection services cover Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. A child protection concern can be reported through Child Abuse Protection at 677; emergencies should be reported to the Police at 911. Professionals may have reporting duties when they identify a protection concern. Households facing poverty or vulnerability may qualify for SEED, the Support for Education, Empowerment and Development programme administered through the Ministry of Social & Community Development, Housing and Gender Affairs. SEED is targeted rather than universal. Its historical conditions have included school attendance and periodic health checks. In 2024, the programme provided an additional EC$200 per month for beneficiaries aged 65 or older, people with physical disabilities and people with mental illness, with a maximum of EC$500 per household; the current design may change as social-protection reforms continue. Grenada has no verified universal child allowance. Work and social-insurance rules also affect family care. The Employment Act provides three months of maternity leave, generally after 18 months of continuous employment; for daily-paid workers, the stated requirement is 105 days in the preceding 18 months. The NIS maternity allowance is 65% of average insurable earnings for three months, together with a maternity grant of EC$522. The allowance may begin up to six weeks before the expected birth, and a claim should generally be filed within three months after birth. A husband may receive the maternity grant when his wife does not qualify. Grenada has no statutory paternity leave identified in the available national rules. After a death, the NIS Survivors Benefit may cover a spouse or common-law spouse, children under 18, children up to 21 who attend school and a dependent parent, subject to contribution conditions. The Funeral Grant may cover an insured person, spouse or common-law spouse, or a child under 16, including a stepchild or adopted child. Claims are generally expected within six months; a claim submitted more than twelve months late may be excluded. These benefits are contribution-dependent and are not universal family payments. Domestic violence support includes the Domestic Violence Act, Cap. 84, and telephone services for Domestic Violence at 411, Sexual Abuse at 400 and Child Abuse at 677. The Maintenance Act, Cap. 180 addresses child maintenance, custody, access and paternity. The Matrimonial Causes Act covers divorce, custody and related financial relief. The Family Court Act, Cap. 100B is listed in Grenada's legal framework, but the current operation of a specialised Family Court is not clearly established in public information; the Magistrates' Courts and High Court are the relevant courts to verify for a particular case. No reliable nationwide figures were established for maintenance amounts, court fees or average case duration.