Parental Responsibility

All important decisions concerning a child (for example where and with whom a child lives, and decisions about health and education) must be taken by someone with parental responsibility. A child’s mother always has parental responsibility (apart from when a child has been adopted).

Parental Responsibility

You will probably have heard mention of parental responsibility. All important decisions concerning a child (for example where and with whom a child lives, and decisions about health and education) must be taken by someone with parental responsibility. A child’s mother always has parental responsibility (apart from when a child has been adopted).

The father will have parental responsibility if:-
• The parents are or have been married to each other
• There is a parental responsibility agreement between the parents pending a particular form lodged with the court
• A court order has given the father parental responsibility.
• His name is on the Birth Certificate and the birth was registered after 1st December 2003.

Another person will have parental responsibility while a child subject to a Residence Order (see below) to that person. Social Services will have parental responsibility while a child is subject to a Care Order or an Interim Care Order.

Biological Father Parental Responsibility

If you are the biological father of a child but do not have parental responsibility, or you have a child living with you, but do not have the parental responsibility that you need to make decisions for them, please contact us for an appointment and we can advise you as to the best way in which to obtain parental responsibility based on your individual circumstances.