Tag Archives: Parental responsibility

How does the UK family court decide whether a father should be given parental responsibility?

In any decisions about what is right for a child, the welfare of the child is paramount. The court must consider the ‘welfare checklist’. It must consider:- • the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child in light of his age and understanding; • the physical, emotional and educational needs; • the likely effect on…

How Long Does Parental Responsibility Last in UK Family Law?

Parental responsibility only lasts as a legal concept until the child is 18 or if the child marries between 16 & 18, on marriage or until an adoption order is made. A mother will always have parental responsibility until the child is 18 unless an adoption order is made. A married father is in the…

What Does Parental Responsbility Mean in UK Family Law?

Parental responsibility is defined in the Children Act 1989 as ‘all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property’. Cases decided by the courts have given us some idea of what this means. • making choices about a child’s…

Can More Than One Person Have Parental Responsibility in UK Family Law?

Yes: for example – Parents who are married both have parental responsibility. A local authority is given parental responsibility when a care order is made but the mother (and maybe the father) will continue to have parental responsibility along with the local authority. The local authority will be in the driving seat, however, and can…

Who Has Parental Responsibility?

This is the first in a series of posts about parental responsibility. Who Has Parental Responsibility in UK family law? The mother of a child always has parental responsibility. This can only be removed if a child is adopted or placed for adoption under a a placement order. The married father of a child has…