When a relationship breaks down, it is not uncommon for there to be a disagreement over which parent the child should live with primarily, and how much contact the other parent will have. Child Arrangements Orders replaced Contact and Residence orders in 2014, and in the latest blog post, Broadbents Solicitors discusses this topic in further detail.
Responsibility
If the parents of a child were married when the child was born, they both automatically share parental responsibility. When this is the case, each parent has all of the duties and responsibilities they would have had before the relationship broke down, meaning that both parents should be consulted regarding all major decisions, such as schooling, medical treatment, upbringing etc.
Unmarried Parents
In the case that the parents of a child were not married when the child was born, the mother automatically has responsibility for the child, whilst, as of 2003, the father has parental responsibility if he was named on the birth certificate. Where the father of the child was not named on the birth certificate, both parents can sign a parental responsibility agreement, or the father can apply to the courts for responsibility by court order.
A Child Arrangements Order
In cases that the parents of a child cannot come to an agreement on where the child should live and the amount of time spent to be spent with the other parent, a Child Arrangements Order can be applied for.
A Child Arrangements Order can be granted to more than one person, regardless of whether they live together. What you may not know is that a Child Arrangements Order can also be made with respect to siblings or wider family members.
To summarise, a Child Arrangements Order with respect to parental responsibility will:
Decide where the child lives
When each parent will see the child
When and what other contact may take place between the parents and a child, including phone calls, letters etc.
Here at Broadbents Solicitors, we have been providing comprehensive guidance and advice regarding family matters for many years. We understand that each case is different and tailor our approach to your specific circumstances. To speak to a member of our team, please contact us today.
