What is parental responsibility?
The law changed on 1st December 2003, which now makes it easier
for unmarried fathers to get equal ‘Parental Responsibility’ for
their children.
Parental responsibility for your child gives you important legal
rights as well as responsibilities. Without it, you don’t have any
right to be involved in decisions such as where they live, their
education, religion or medical treatment. With parental
responsibility, you are treated in law as the child’s parent, and
you take equal responsibility for bringing them up.
Unlike mothers and married fathers, if you are not married to
your baby’s mother you do not automatically have parental
responsibility for them.
Before this change, you could only gain parental responsibility
by later marrying the child’s mother, signing an official agreement
with the mother, or getting a court order.
You can still get responsibility in these ways, you might want
to think about this if you have other children.
For more information on parental responsibility visit the
UK Deed
Poll website
Need help to decide what to do?
Parentline Plus has a free
helpline where you can talk through the options and ask for advice.
Alternatively call them on 0808 800 222 or Textphone 0800 783
6783