Parental Responsibility
Parental responsibility should be equal between both parents as you both have the duty towards your child and decisions in their upbringing. Decisions for your child’s wellbeing will include education, appointing guardian, medical treatment, and religious beliefs.
We are a Caernarfon based company providing expert advice on child arrangements to clients across North Wales, and can provide you with assistance throughout the process.
Do you have Parental Responsibility?
A child’s mother has parental responsibility automatically, as does the father if married to the mother.
However, as the number of cohabiting couples increases, unmarried fathers will not automatically have parental responsibility but it can be obtained by:
- marrying the mother;
- registering your name on the birth certificate;
- entering into a Parental Responsibility Agreement;
- obtaining a Parental Responsibility Order from the court;
- being named as the resident parent under a Child Arrangements Order;
- becoming the child’s guardian on the mother’s death.
Parental Responsibility Order
There are numerous ways to settle disputes regarding your children, and we can help provide you with a parental responsibility order or agreement to resolve these stressful times.
Parental Responsibility Agreement
Here an unmarried father obtains parental responsibility through agreement with the child’s mother.
Parental Responsibility Order
If the mother does not agree then the unmarried father can apply to the court for a parental responsibility order. Generally, the Courts will grant and Order unless evidence suggests you will cause some ‘risk’ to your child’s welfare.
Other Guardians’ Parental Responsibility
Parental responsibility is not automatically granted to people who are not parents, even if they care for the child on a day-to-day basis. There are several ways that a person who is not the child’s parent may obtain parental responsibility for the child:
- by being appointed as a guardian;
- by obtaining a Child Arrangements Order from the Court;
- by becoming the child’s special guardian; or
- by adopting the child.
A step-parent may make an agreement to obtain parental responsibility for their step-child, providing all those with Parental Responsibility agree.
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