Expert child custody advice
The Family Team at Mayo Wynne Baxter has particular expertise in dealing with family issues involving children. When children are involved, our expert team always have their best interests as the primary goal.
Our child custody lawyers combine their many years experience in resolving family law disputes to create a tailored service exactly to your needs. They acknowledge that child custody rights can be hard to understand for many parents, and will provide a clear and straightforward approach in helping achieve the best possible arrangement for you and your child.
Understanding your child custody rights
A married father has automatic parental responsibility, as does a natural father whose name is on the child’s birth certificate for a birth registered after 1st December 2003.
In other circumstances a natural father who was unmarried to the mother at the time of his child’s birth does not, but does have the ability to apply for an order for parental responsibility.
- The child’s name cannot be changed without the father’s consent
- The father has a right to be consulted over education and heath matters
- The father’s consent is required for any adoption
- The child is taken into care by the local authority the father must be informed
Parental responsibility can be obtained by agreement that is formally recorded and sent to the Principal Registry in London. If an agreement cannot be reached, the father may make an application to court for parental responsibility.
This is only a brief explanation of child custody rights, and is not intended to be a substitute for tailored assistance to your circumstances.
Contact a member of our Family Law Team today for further information about child custody laws, or alternatively to arrange an appointment with one of our experts.
