Hartnell Chanot: Divorce/Family Law Solicitors Exeter, Devon

What is Parental Responsibility?

It is vital in the case of parental abduction issues, to seek legal advice swiftly and act immediately.

Parental Responsibility (PR) is the legal duty of looking after a child with the legal right to make important decisions about their life such as medical procedures, passport applications, choosing schools and religious persuasion.

A mother automatically has parental responsibility but a father only has it if:

• He is married to the mother
• He makes a Parental Responsibility agreement with the mother
• He applies to the court for an order (if the mother refuses the above)
• He registered as the father on the birth certificate for a child born on or after 1st December 2003

If the child was born before this date and he is not married to the mother he does not automatically have Parental Responsibility, although if he did not register as the father on the birth certificate, he can re-register the birth adding his details. Visit - http://www.gro.gov.uk for further information.

More than one person can have Parental Responsibility for a child and other relatives, such as grandparents or guardians can apply to the courts for it.