What about the children ?

For general information on children please see our section on Children.

Where a child was born before 1st December 2003, an unmarried father does not automatically acquire Parental Responsibility (PR) (the legal rights and duries towards a child), even if they are on the birth certificate. There are two ways in which PR can be acquired, by entering into a PR agreement or by Court Order.

Where a child was born after 1st December 2003, any father who is on the birth certificate, automatically has PR. IF they are not on the birth certificate then they can aqcuire it in the same way as above.