Parental Responsibility – what is this?

Parental responsibility (‘PR’) relates to ‘all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority’ which a parent or individual has in relation to a child. Until a child reaches the age of 18, it is expected that those with PR can make important decisions for a child including (but not limited to):

• Where a child should live or go to school.
• Medical treatment for a child.
• Determining what (if any) religion a child should have.
• Changing a child’s name.
• Removing a child from the jurisdiction.
• Administering a child’s property.

You do not always need to get the consent of the other parent (or any other person with PR) for routine day to day decisions, however if you cannot agree in relation to a major decision for your child, you may need to apply to the court for an Order. Before making an application to the court, you will need to consider non-court dispute resolution (NCDR). NCDR may not be appropriate if the situation is urgent, or there has been domestic abuse, however failure to seriously consider NCDR may have financial implications, and you may be ordered to pay the costs of the other individual involved. 

If you are facing difficulties in relation to an important decision for your child, please get in touch via our contact page or contact Monicka Rai directly here.