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Our team of specialist family lawyers can give advice in respect of all aspects of Parental Responsibility.
Parental Responsibility acknowledges your role as a parent and entitles you to make and be involved in decisions concerning a child.
By having Parental Responsibility, you should be consulted concerning matters such as:
Mothers automatically have parental responsibility, as do fathers who are married to the mother
If you are an unmarried father you do not automatically have parental responsibility but you can acquire it in the following circumstances:
The Parental Responsibility Agreement is a prescribed form and must be correctly completed, signed and registered for it to be effective.
As an unmarried father, the Court will generally grant you parental responsibility if you are committed to the child and can show a genuine attachment and a sound motive for the application.
Since 2005 it has been possible in certain circumstances for step parents and civil partners of parents to obtain parental responsibility. This can only be acquired by agreement with the parents (but only those with parental responsibility) or by order of the Court. Parental responsibility will last until your child is 18 and will not end if that marriage or Civil Partnership comes to an end.
You can contact your local Glanville’s office in Chichester, Fareham, Havant or Petworth or use the contact form below and we will get back to you quickly.