Parental Responsibility
Parental Responsibility is all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority, which by law a parent of a child has in relation to that child and their property. In essence, parental responsibility is concerned with bringing up a child, caring for them and making decisions about them. It does not affect the relationship between the parent and child for any other purpose. Parental Responsibility extends to determining a child’s religion, education, name, appointment of a guardian and consenting to or refusing medical treatment etc.
A mother of a child has parental responsibility for that child instantly once it is born and that can never be removed unless the child is freed or placed for adoption. However, the mother may share Parental Responsibility with the father, and in certain circumstances, the Local Authority or a person with whom the child lives.
As a father of a child there are a number of ways to obtain Parental Responsibility:
- By marrying the child’s mother
- By entering into a Parental Responsibility Agreement under s.4(1)b Children Act 1989
- By obtaining a Residence Order in your favour
- By obtaining a Parental Responsibility Order from the Court
As a father, if you have a child who was born after 1 December 2003 you will acquire parental responsibility if you jointly registered the child’s birth with the child’s mother and your name appears on the child’s birth certificate.
If you are a father who does not have Parental Responsibility, but want to have a say in the child’s future, we can advise you and assist you in obtaining it.
If you do not have Parental responsibility then your child’s mother will be able to effect changes to your child’s life without your authority. For example, removing your child from the Country, changing your child’s name, determining their religion.
