Member Article

how does a Father aquire Parental Responsibilty?

Fathers can aquire Parental Responsibility in 5 ways

If child born after Dec 2003 and the Father is named on the birth certificate he does not need

to be named as guardian as he will automatically assume parental responsibility for the child

• By adopting the child( which may be jointly with the mother or another person)
• By a Parental Responsibility Agreement with the Mother
• By A Parental Responsibility order made by a court
• By subsequently marrying his child’s mother.

Not having Parental Responsibility does not effect a Fathers’ responsibility to contribute financially towards the upbringing of his children

Step Parents do not have P/Responsibility for their step children unless they legally adopt them

If there is any doubt as to whether the Father has P/R ( assuming the Mother wants him to act) a Mother should appoint the childs’ Father as her first choice of guardian in her Will and then adopt back up choices in the event of both of their deaths

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Young .