Mothers automatically have parental responsibility in relation to their children.
Fathers automatically have parental responsibility only if they are married to the child’s mother, or (for children born after 1 December 2003) if they are named on the child’s birth certificate.
If neither married nor named on the birth certificate, there are other ways a father can go about obtaining parental responsibility, such as a parental responsibility agreement with the mother.
It is important to be aware that only those with parental responsibility are entitled to make decisions about their child’s life.
Where more than one parent has parental responsibility, each parent may exercise that responsibility independently, without the consent of the other, such as emergency medical treatment.
Certain decisions, however, must be not be taken unilaterally and the consent of the other parent is required. Examples include where a child is to attend school, their relocation to a different part of the country, or their relocation to another country altogether.
An expert family solicitor can make a huge difference in reducing the anxiety and confusion that can exist without an appreciation of the issues and the likely approach of the Family Court to resolve the dispute.
Contact our team using this for or give us a call on 0161 969 3131.