What is a parental responsibility order?

A parental responsibility order is an order under the Children Act 1989, which unmarried fathers can apply for when the mother refuses to allow the father to be registered or re-registered on the birth certificate, or refuses to sign a parental responsibility agreement with the father.

The process involves the father making an application to court for the court to decide whether or not they should allow the unmarried father to have parental responsibility.

If the court decides that the father should have parental responsibility, the order will give the father equal parental responsibility with the mother.

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