What is parental responsibility?

All mothers and most fathers have legal rights and responsibilities as a parent – known as ‘parental responsibility’.

If you have parental responsibility, your most important roles are to:

provide a home for the child
protect and maintain the child

You’re also responsible for:

disciplining the child
choosing and providing for the child’s education
agreeing to the child’s medical treatment
naming the child and agreeing to any change of name
looking after the child’s property

Parents have to ensure that their child is supported financially, whether they have parental responsibility or not.

Parental responsibility for separated parents

If you have parental responsibility for a child but you do not live with them, it does not mean you have a right to spend time with your children. However, the other parent must include you when making important decisions about their lives.

You do not always need to get the consent of the other parent for routine decisions, even if they also have parental responsibility.

If it’s a major decision (for example, one of you wants to move abroad with your children) both parents with responsibility must agree in writing.

You can apply for a Specific Issue Order or Prohibited Steps Order if you cannot agree. A judge will then make a decision which is in your children’s best interests.

You must make sure your children are financially supported, whether you have parental responsibility or not.

Can grandparents get custody or visitation rights?

Grandparent rights – Losing contact with your grandchild can be devastating for any grandparent. There are however, options available to those who seek contact with their grandchild through practical and pragmatic steps being taken. At Fairmont Law Solicitors we can assist in re-establishing contact with your grandchildren including the possibility of full-time care of the child in exceptional circumstances.

Family Law

What is parental responsibility?