What is Parental Responsibility?

Parental responsibility is an important legal concept concerning children. Mothers acquire parental responsibility for their children automatically, but the position is different for fathers. Fathers only have parental responsibility if they were married to the child’s mother at the time the child was born, or if they are not married but named on the child’s birth certificate.

If you do not have parental responsibility for your child, there are ways you can obtain this. You can sign a parental responsibility agreement with the mother of your child to remedy the situation and this would be the easiest, most cost effective way to do this.

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 a child and his property”.

If the mother does not agree to sign a parental responsibility agreement, then you will need to make an application for a Parental Responsibility Order with the Court. You may also wish to consider applying to the Court for a Declaration of Parentage which will allow you to rectify and/or amend an incorrect birth certificate, for example, but will not automatically provide you with parental responsibility.

Specialist Family Solicitors

Our expert family solicitors can help and provide you with further information and advice on parental responsibility and resolving family issues relating to children.

We can explain the best way for you to obtain parental responsibility, the Court’s process and advise on the different options available to you including applying for a Declaration of Parentage.

Here to help

Our specialist teams can provide full service legal advice and assistance, providing practical and cost-effective solutions.

About Ellis Jones

Our team of solicitors take a personal approach to everything we do, helping make the process as simple and easy as possible by providing support and guidance every step of the way. Learn more about us and our approach.

Learn More

About Ellis Jones

Our team of solicitors take a personal approach to everything we do, helping make the process as simple and easy as possible by providing support and guidance every step of the way. Learn more about us and our approach.

Learn More

Latest Family Law News and Advice

4 minute read

Family Mediation Week 2025: What is Mediation and how can it help you and your family?

Learn More
4 minute read

Demystifying MIAMs – what is a MIAM?

Learn More
3 minute read

Is the Grass Greener? Insights on Black Monday Divorces

Learn More
4 minute read

Government’s changes to Family Law Policy 2024

Learn More
All News

Our offices

Bournemouth
302 Charminster Road
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH8 9RU
01202 525333
Contact Bournemouth Bournemouth
London
Office 320 107 – 111 Fleet Street
London
EC4A 2AB
02039 784720
Contact London London
Poole
14a Haven Road
Canford Cliffs
Poole
Dorset
BH13 7LP
01202 709898
Contact Poole Poole
Ringwood
Monmouth Court
Southampton Road
Ringwood
Hampshire
BH24 1HE
01425 484848
Contact Ringwood Ringwood
Swanage
55 High Street
Swanage
Dorset
BH19 2LT
01929 422233
Contact Swanage Swanage
Wimborne
39a East Street
Wimborne
Dorset
BH21 1DX
01202 057676
Contact Wimborne Wimborne