Unmarried Mothers rights

[ollie69]

Hello,
I am in great need of help and advice please.

My daughter is 15 yrs old and wishes to live and stay with me in Australia. We moved to Australia in 2006 and applied for residency there. The Immigration asked for a copy of a court order giving me permission to remove my daughter from the U.K or a letter from her father giving me permission.
I was never married to her father and as this was long before the new fathers rights came in, I thought I had sole parental responsibility...

I wonder if anyone can help me find some legal information which I can give to immigration in Australia which proves that as an unmarried mother who lived with (for 20 years) but was never married to my daughters father that a court order or her fathers permission isn't required. Unless I have misunderstood the laws on parental rights and responsibilities regarding mothers and fathers rights.

We have since returned to the U.K but I have to get back quickly if I'm not to lose my residency application.

If I'm wrong and a letter or court order is required for a child of 15, will she be legally allowed to leave the country at 16 without her fathers or the courts consent.

Any help appreciated... thanks Ollie

[Ethel]

If there is no parental responsibility agreement between you and her father, or a court order awarding him parental responsibility, he does not have it, even if his name is on the birth certificate and he has lived in the family home for many years,

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/ParentsRig hts/DG_4002954

As this is a matter of urgency for you, see a solicitor

[ollie69]

Thanks for your response Ethel, i'll have to book an appt. with someone.

[bednobs]

i dont know if it makes any difference he dosent have parental responsiblity. After all its their immigration system and they an ask for what they want, and if thats a letter of permission from the father, that might be what you have to get.
Could you get such a letter?

[atalanta]

If the girl's father finds out you wish the girl to emigrate, and does not wish her to go, he can make her a ward of court. Then things really start getting complicated. Try the Citizens Advice Bureau