Heptonstalls advise parents to consider Delegated Parental Responsibility
Many fathers, step parents and grandparents look after family children on a regular basis, either whilst the mother is at work, or perhaps when the mother is away on holiday.
What happens if the child suffers an injury or becomes ill whilst in the care of relations?
Relatives, including fathers often assume that they will be able to make decisions regarding the welfare of a child in the mothers’ absence. However this is not always the case. Only a person who has parental responsibility for the child can make these decisions, such as discussing schooling issues with the child’s teachers, through to making important medical decisions.
The mother of the child is the only person who automatically has Parental Responsibility. Fathers with children born before 1st December 2003 do not automatically have it (even if they are named on the birth certificate) unless they are married to the mother. For children born after 1st December 2003 the father will automatically have Parental Responsibility rights if he is named on the birth certificate, whether married to the mother or not.
A mother can ‘Delegate’ Parental Responsibility to those who play a part in caring for the child. This could include fathers, step parents, grandparents and close family friends who have a long term stable relationship with the child. Allowing Delegated Parental Responsibility means that the mother can feel assured that there are people who are able to take important decisions regarding the child’s welfare on the rare occasion, that an accident or illness should occur in her absence.
Setting up Delegated Parental Responsibility is a simple procedure, whereby a document is signed and witnessed at a Solicitors office. It can also be easily cancelled at any time.
Heptonstalls LLP Solicitors offer specialist advice regarding Delegated Parental Responsibility. For more information call 01405 765661.