Parental responsibility

Summary

Parental responsibility is how the law describes the responsibilities and rights that go with being a parent. If you have parental responsibility for a child, you must care for and protect that child and the law entitles you to be involved in making decisions about them. Most, but not all parents have 'parental responsibility' for their children. It is sometimes important for step-parents to have it too. [ Thanks to everyone who helped us make this lovely informationAdvicenow would like to thank all those who provided advice and feedback on this information, and in particular Polly Morgan, Professor of Law, University of East Anglia.Thanks also to the Ministry of Justice via the Online Support and Advice grant for funding this update. ]() [ The information applies to England and Wales only.The law is complicated. We recommend you try to get advice from the sources we have suggested. ]() Getting free one-to-one advice about family law is hard. All advice services are extremely busy. We are here to help everyone who cannot get in at an advice service and cannot afford to pay for legal help. We give you the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need to deal with the issue yourself.

Key information

• •Parental responsibility is how the law describes the responsibilities and rights that go with being a parent. If you have parental responsibility for a child, you must care for and protect that child and the law entitles you to be involved in making decisions about them.
• •Most, but not all parents have 'parental responsibility' for their children. It is sometimes important for step-parents to have it too.
• •Information Why is parental responsibility important? Understand if you need parental responsibility and what ‘powers’ it gives you.  Information Work out if you have parental responsibility Get to grips with who has parental responsibility and how to get it 
• •Information How to make a parental responsibility order agreement Unmarried dads, married or civil partnered step parents, and second female parents have the option of making a parental responsibility agreement. Here’s how. 
• •Information How to get a parental responsibility order Step-by-step guidance on how to apply for a parental responsibility order and what you have to do at every stage of the process.  Information Help with court fees in a civil or family case If you are on a low income, check if you are eligible for a discount or not have to pay a fee at all.  Information How to get legal aid for a family law issue Understand when it is available, and who can get it to pay for family mediation or legal advice 
• •[ Thanks to everyone who helped us make this lovely informationAdvicenow would like to thank all those who provided advice and feedback on this information, and in particular Polly Morgan, Professor of Law, University of East Anglia.Thanks also to the Ministry of Justice via the Online Support and Advice grant for funding this update. ]() [ The information applies to England and Wales only.The law is complicated. We recommend you try to get advice from the sources we have suggested. ]()
• •Getting free one-to-one advice about family law is hard. All advice services are extremely busy. We are here to help everyone who cannot get in at an advice service and cannot afford to pay for legal help.
• •We give you the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need to deal with the issue yourself, or with the help of friends or family. If you need more help than you can get from our advice guides, we explain how to try to find advice.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [Parental responsibility](https://www.advicenow.org.uk/get-help/family-and-children/parental-responsibility)

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