Parental Responsibility

What is Parental Responsibility?

‘Parental Responsibility’ is a legal concept commonly referred to when a disagreement over the arrangements for children has arisen. Parental Responsibility is:

‘the rights, duties, powers and responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his/her property’.

Disagreement over the arrangements for my children?

When you have Parental Responsibility for a child you can make decisions about a whole range of issues including their health, education, how they spend their time, whether they can leave the country, their name and who they spend their time with.

Parental Responsibility

We understand the difficulties that can arise if there are questions over who can make decisions concerning a child. Please feel free to contact us if you would like advice about these issues.

Parental Responsibility

Unmarried Father - Not on Birth Certificate

Not Child's Parent

You automatically have Parental Responsibility if you are:

The child’s biological mother;
The child’s biological father and you are married to, or later marry, the natural mother;
The unmarried father of a child born after 1 December 2003 and you are named on the birth certificate.

If you are an unmarried father and you are not on the child’s birth certificate or the birth pre-dates 1 December 2003 you can acquire Parental Responsibility by:

Entering into a voluntary Parental Responsibility Agreement with the mother
Obtaining a Parental Responsibility Order or Child Arrangements Order from the Court.

If you are not the child’s parent you may be able to acquire Parental Responsibility by:

Obtaining a Child Arrangements Order confirming the child lives with you – Parental Responsibility lasts for as long as the Child Arrangements Order lasts.
Obtaining a Special Guardianship Order
Adopting the child
Becoming the child’s Guardian after the parents’ death.

If you would like to know more about this process or feel this could be something you would benefit from, please contact us at [email protected] or telephone Ipswich 01473 213311, Felixstowe 01394 834557 or Colchester 01206 584584, where we will be happy to speak with you.

Family Team

Matthew Clemence
Head of Family Department - Partner Solicitor
About Matthew Clemence. Matthew is the head of our Family Law Department. Matthew qualified as a solicitor in 2001 following...
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Elaine Webb
Partner Solicitor
About Elaine Webb. After completing a Law Degree, Elaine worked as a Housing Advisor in the voluntary sector in London...
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Amanda Erskine
Associate Solicitor
About Amanda Erskine. Amanda is an Associate Solicitor in the Family Department. Amanda qualified as a family solicitor in 2012...
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Nicola Furmston
Senior Solicitor
About Nicola Furmston. Nicola qualified as a solicitor in 1992, initially practicing in civil litigation and family law. She worked...
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Rosie Brighty
Trainee Solicitor - Employment & Family Team
About Rosie Brighty. Rosie studied Law at the University of East Anglia and graduated in 2022 with a 2.1. Rosie...
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Hannah Gordon
Associate Solicitor
About Hannah Gordon. Hannah is an Associate Solicitor in the Family Department. Hannah graduated from the University of East Anglia...
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