Parental responsibility

Parental Responsibility governs the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority in relation to a child. It confers legal status in issues of the child`s health, education and welfare.

• A mother has parental responsibility automatically.
• Parental Responsibility is retained even if the parents separate and regardless of who the child lives with.
• a father of a child born after 1st December 2003 (who is named on the birth certificate) shares parental responsibility with the mother.
• Otherwise a father does not acquire it unless:
  • the parents of the child are married.
  • the parents enter into a Parental Responsibility Agreement.
  • a Court makes a Parental Responsibility Order.
  • a Step-Parent Parental Responsibility Agreement (is this not for step dad?)

Any other person who has been granted a Child Arrangements Order (check) or a Residence Order will also be granted parental responsibility for so long as the order remains in force.

We can assist with Parental Orders for non-biological parents same sex families and surrogate parents.