Parental Responsibility

Trix

Due to the kind concern of the situation my partner and I have (together 11 years, 2 kids, not married), I've finally started the process of making sure he has legal responsibility for them. This means he will be able to sign medical forms, school trip forms etc.

For anyone in the same position, this web site:
http://www.fnf.org.uk/fnfindex.htm#
has a form that can be printed off and instructions of what to do with it.
Or the court order site:
http://www.courtservice.gov.uk/cms/media/c(pra)(9.01).pdf
has a form.

Got to take the form to County court now. Not sure how to go about this but I'll make some phone calls.

Fran

Just to clarify Parental Responsibility, this is a quote from http://www.justask.org.uk

"If the child's father is not married to the mother at the time of the child's birth, the only person having PR for the child is the MOTHER. That situation continues until the father acquires PR either by entering a legal PR agreement with the mother or obtaining a PR order from a court. The unmarried father in addition to applying for PR can apply for the whole range of orders relating to a child's welfare. "

I have heard/read that the situation is going to change so that unmarried fathers will have the same rights as unmarried mothers.

Trix

There has been a change in the law for new fathers.

Quote from:
http://www.pressbox.co.uk/Detailed/12274.html

'New unmarried fathers got some good news on 1 December 2003.

From this date the law changed giving them new rights, known as “parental responsibility” where they are registered on the birth certificate as their child’s father.'

My kids both have my partners name on their birth certificates and he was there when their births were registered, but this new law unfortunately isn't retrospective. The strange thing is that when we registered our first daughters birth - I still had my maiden name so her surname was the same as her fathers but not her mothers  :-/

Fran

Trix, your link doesn't work for me, can you check it?

Little_Star_3

Its just missing the ml from the end

http://www.pressbox.co.uk/Detailed/12274.html

Trix

Whoops - was in a rush when I did that! Thanks Little_Star for helping out Fran :-*

Mrs_Thrift

"Due to the kind concern of the situation my partner and I have (together 11 years, 2 kids, not married), I've finally started the process of making sure he has legal responsibility for them. This means he will be able to sign medical forms, school trip forms etc. "

That's good news, Trix! Hope it's not too much hassle with all the forms and such.

Ms T.

Fran

There has been a change in the law for new fathers.

Quote from:
http://www.pressbox.co.uk/Detailed/12274.html

'New unmarried fathers got some good news on 1 December 2003.

From this date the law changed giving them new rights, known as “parental responsibility” where they are registered on the birth certificate as their child’s father.'

My kids both have my partners name on their birth certificates and he was there when their births were registered, but this new law unfortunately isn't retrospective. The strange thing is that when we registered our first daughters birth - I still had my maiden name so her surname was the same as her fathers but not her mothers  :-/

MC - Trix's quote says that the new law isn't retrospective, so if you aren't married and had your baby before December 1st 2003, you haven't got automatic parental responsibility.

System

Fran,

I must say, its good to have you around. Your a useful source of information!!!

mistral_2

My post removed and some more reading to do , I was lied to a bit by the registrar on this one .

Seeing as I hate the idea of marriage so much it does now cause me some concern !

In fact I have the right hump anyway over this issue , who the hell thinks the woman is the best person to look after the child !

I hate this form of sexism within law .

An unmarried father has, until recently, only been able to acquire parental responsibility either by written agreement, making an application to the Court or by marrying the child’s mother.

So how does the written consent part work ?


Thank you for bringing this thread up and let me know how you get on , still trying to find the right form to download

Fran

MC - You don't have to get married!!  :)I agree about the mother/father issue, but it's been changed now! Unfortunately if it doesn't apply to you that's of no use  :(. However, if you read Trix's original post on this page, she has already got court forms etc. and gives the links. As long as the mother agrees it is straightforward.

You're doing what I do and modifying after 10 minutes having thought of something else! I missed the second part of your post - have a look at Trix's links or why not send her a pm as she's going through the same thing?

Or - very old fashioned I know - why not ring your local court?