Parental responsibility means that a parent has legal duties and rights regarding the upbringing of their child. It can also mean that a carer or family member has these duties and rights related to a child that they are legally responsible for.
When a parent or carer is making an important decision regarding their child’s life, they must include the other parent, or anyone else with parental responsibility, in the decision making process.
Parental responsibility means that a parent/carer must make decisions regarding where a child goes to school, where they live, the type of medical treatment that they receive, any religious education they receive, a change to their name, and various other key decisions.
When a child is born, mothers are automatically granted parental responsibility, and fathers will have parental responsibility if they are married to the mother. Same sex partners who are in a civil partnership with the mother will also have parental responsibility (where the child was conceived after April 2009.)
Where a father or a same sex partner is not married to or in a civil partnership with the mother, they will not automatically have parental responsibility, and will instead need to obtain it.
Our expert solicitors at Crisp & Co can help clients to obtain parental responsibility, supporting you with various steps, including:
- Parental responsibility legal advice
- Parental Responsibility Agreements
- Applying for a Parental Responsibility Order