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Parental responsibility

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The Children Act alters the emphasis for parents from parental rights to parental responsibility, which includes rights, duties, responsibilities and authority a parent has with respect to a child.

A mother automatically has parental responsibilty.

A father gains parental responsiblity:

  • by being married to the mother, before or after the birth of the child
  • by formal agreement with the mother
  • by application in a parental responsibility order
  • by gaining a residence order or appointment as a guardian
  • also from December 2003, an unmarried father may also gain parental responsibility if both parents register the birth of their child (1)

Others can gain parental responsibilty:

  • by gaining a residence order or appointment as a guardian
  • by adoption

Once granted, parental resposibility can only be removed by a court:

  • by application from another person with parental responsibilty
  • by application by the child

Reference:

  1. PRLEAF1 - PPSPG/1003/8753

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