Parental Responsibility
Giving you legal rights to a child's upbringing
Whether you're the child's parent or another family member, we're here to offer tailored advice to support you, every step of the way.
Whether you're the child's parent or another family member, we're here to offer tailored advice to support you, every step of the way.
Parental responsibility is a term that means you have legal rights and duties relating to your child's upbringing. It doesn't necessarily mean you have a right to spend time with your child (if you don't live with them), but the other parent must include you when making important decisions about their lives.
You’re also responsible for issues such as: where they go to school, how to discipline them, agreeing to their medical treatment, choosing, registering or changing their names
All mothers automatically have parental responsibility. A biological father has it if he’s either married to the child’s mother or named on the birth certificate. It can also be obtained by a father with a specific written agreement with the mother or order of the court. Someone with a Child Arrangements Order for a child to live with them, or a Special Guardianship Order also has Parental Responsibility for the child for the duration of the order.
Jonathan manages our excellent Childcare Law team who work closely with families in crisis to achieve the best outcome for children.
Director & Head of Childcare Law
