Parental responsibility and divorce

The Children Act 1989
According to The Children Act of 1989 the welfare of the child is paramount. Contact replaces the word access and custody is replaced by residence. The Act is concerned with the responsibility of parents rather than their rights.

A father can acquire parental responsibility either by formal agreement with the mother or by a court order.

Parental responsibility defines the rights and duties of parenthood as follows:

Protecting and maintaining your child.

Naming and choosing a school for your child.

Ensuring that your child attends school from the ages of five to sixteen.

Making sure that they receive medical treatment.

Appointing a guardian in the event of parental death.

Applying for a passport.

Representing your child.

Making a decision on where your child should live.

Deciding on your child's religion – if any.

Taking a child out of the country
Where both mother and father have parental responsibility, neither parent can take a child out of England, Wales or Scotland without the written permission of the other parent or that of the court. If a child is taken across an international border in contravention of a court order or without written consent from the other parent then it will be construed as abduction. Reunite is the leading charity dealing with international child abduction.