CLM Solicitors - Private Services - Family - Fact Sheet

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

When a child is born to unmarried parents only the mother automatically has parental responsibility for him or her. For children born after 1st December 2003, the father will have parental responsibility if he was registered on the child's birth certificate.

What is parental responsibility?

'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' Children Act 1989

Parental responsibility is concerned with bringing the child up, caring for him/her and making decisions about him/her but does not affect the relationship of the parent and child for other purposes such as the obligation to pay maintenance.

arental responsibility reflects the everyday reality of being a parent.

How can an unmarried father acquire parental responsibility?

The five main ways are:

by being registered on the child's birth certificate if the child was born after 1st December 2003
by entering into a parental responsibility agreement with the mother
by applying to the Court for a parental responsibility Order. For more details please see our 'Arrangements for Children' leaflet
by obtaining a residence Order in his favour, this will automatically give him parental responsibility. For more details please see our 'Arrangements for Children' leaflet
by marrying the child's mother

Step-parents and civil partners can also acquire parental responsibility for their partner’s children.

When can parental responsibility be important?

There are many aspects to parental responsibility and it is impossible to pinpoint a specific list. Aspects of parental responsibility which are acknowledged by the Court include:

Determining the child's religion
Making decisions regarding the child’s education
Naming the child
Consenting (or not) to the child's medical treatment
Consenting to the child's removal from England and Wales for holidays
Protecting and maintaining the child

It is therefore important for an unmarried father to acquire parental responsibility early in his child's life to ensure that he is involved in any crucial decision relating to his child's upbringing.

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NEWBURY

Radnor House, 28 Bartholomew Street

Newbury, RG14 5EU

tel 01635 521212

fax 01635 37784

e newbury.reception@clmlaw.co.uk

HUNGERFORD

28 High Street, Hungerford, RG17 0NF

tel 01488 682506

fax 01488 684824

e hungerford.reception@clmlaw.co.uk

SWINDON

Eastcott House, 4 High Street,
Swindon, SN1 3EP

tel 01793 511055

fax 01793 610887

e swindon.reception@clmlaw.co.uk

WANTAGE

Brooklands, 48 Newbury Street,
Wantage, OX12 8DF

tel 01235 771234

fax 01235 772234

e wantage.reception@clmlaw.co.uk


RETURN TO FAMILY HOME PAGE	RETURN TO FAMILY HOME PAGE
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY When a child is born to unmarried parents only the mother automatically has parental responsibility for him or her. For children born after 1st December 2003, the father will have parental responsibility if he was registered on the child's birth certificate. What is parental responsibility? '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' Children Act 1989 Parental responsibility is concerned with bringing the child up, caring for him/her and making decisions about him/her but does not affect the relationship of the parent and child for other purposes such as the obligation to pay maintenance. P arental responsibility reflects the everyday reality of being a parent. How can an unmarried father acquire parental responsibility? The five main ways are: by being registered on the child's birth certificate if the child was born after 1st December 2003 by entering into a parental responsibility agreement with the mother by applying to the Court for a parental responsibility Order. For more details please see our 'Arrangements for Children' leaflet by obtaining a residence Order in his favour, this will automatically give him parental responsibility. For more details please see our 'Arrangements for Children' leaflet by marrying the child's mother Step-parents and civil partners can also acquire parental responsibility for their partner’s children. When can parental responsibility be important? There are many aspects to parental responsibility and it is impossible to pinpoint a specific list. Aspects of parental responsibility which are acknowledged by the Court include: Determining the child's religion Making decisions regarding the child’s education Naming the child Consenting (or not) to the child's medical treatment Consenting to the child's removal from England and Wales for holidays Protecting and maintaining the child It is therefore important for an unmarried father to acquire parental responsibility early in his child's life to ensure that he is involved in any crucial decision relating to his child's upbringing.
RETURN TO FAMILY HOME PAGE	RETURN TO FAMILY HOME PAGE



NEWBURY Radnor House, 28 Bartholomew Street Newbury, RG14 5EU tel 01635 521212 fax 01635 37784 e newbury.reception@clmlaw.co.uk HUNGERFORD 28 High Street, Hungerford, RG17 0NF tel 01488 682506 fax 01488 684824 e hungerford.reception@clmlaw.co.uk	SWINDON Eastcott House, 4 High Street, Swindon, SN1 3EP tel 01793 511055 fax 01793 610887 e swindon.reception@clmlaw.co.uk WANTAGE Brooklands, 48 Newbury Street, Wantage, OX12 8DF tel 01235 771234 fax 01235 772234 e wantage.reception@clmlaw.co.uk