Without parental responsibility you may miss out on having a say in important decisions to do with your child’s life.
It is a common misconception that being a parent automatically grants you legal parental responsibility of your child.
Only those with legal parental responsibility can make important life decisions for a child.
The kinds of decisions that require parental responsibility include those to do with:
- Education
- Health and medical
- Taking a child abroad
- Religion
- Child’s name
Parental responsibility is legally defined as: “all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property.”
Who has parental responsibility?
Mothers automatically gain parental responsibility at the birth of their child.
A father will gain parental responsibility if:
- He is married to the woman when the child is born.
- The child was born after December 1st2003 and the father is listed on the child’s birth certificate.
How can a father gain parental responsibility?
Fathers without parental responsibility of their children can obtain it using one of the following methods:
- Marrying the child’s mother.
- Having his name registered on the birth certificate.
- Entering into a parental responsibility agreement with the mother.
- Obtaining a parental responsibility order from the court.
- Obtaining a child arrangement order from the court.
Who else can gain parental responsibility?
In some situations, it may be appropriate for another family member to gain parental responsibility for a child. This could include a step-parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle.
In these instances, it is possible to apply to the court for a residence order or a special guardianship order.
If you require help obtaining parental responsibility of a child, get in touch with our team of specialist family law solicitors here at Lund Bennett by calling us on 0161 927 3118.