Parental Responsibility Agreements

Unmarried Fathers
A mother of a child automatically has parental responsibility.

If the father is married to the mother he automatically has parental responsibility.

An unmarried father DOES NOT automatically have ‘Parental Responsibility’. However, he may acquire it either by agreement with the mother or by Court Order. The agreement with the mother must be made in the correct form and registered with the Principal Registry at Somerset House.

If the mother and father subsequently marry, and legitimise their child they both have ‘Parental Responsibility’.

Note: As from 1 December 2003 , unmarried fathers may have parental responsibility if their child was born on or after this date and the birth certificate contains the name of the father.