Your rights and responsibilities as a parent
Having ‘parental responsibility’ for a child means that you have the right to make the important decisions in your child’s life. According to the law, a mother always has parental responsibility for her child.
Unlike mothers, fathers do not always have ‘parental responsibility’ for their children. Since 2003, a father has this responsibility only if he is:
- Married to the mother, or
- Has jointly registered the child’s birth, or
- Has been to court to get a parental responsibility order
The court will look at the application and consider:
- The commitment the father has shown to his child
- How attached the father is to his child
- The father’s reasons for applying
For further information
If you have any questions about your rights as a parent, talk to your Connexions Personal Adviser who can put you in touch with people who can help.