Single parents and rights

[Dagman]

If a single one child mother does not put the fathers name on the birth certificate does he still have rights. At this stage he wishes nothing to do with any of it, but what if he changes his mind? What are her rights to keep him away?

[havinmysay]

im a single parent but what do u mean by 'his rights'

[tiggeralix]

If he changes his mind he can petition the courts to have himself put on the birth certificate once he has that if the child wsa born after sept 2003 then the parent automatically gets equal parental responsibility

[Dagman]

havinmysay, let's say he's bad news in the first place, no love lost between him and the mother, and at present wants absolutely nothing to do with the birth/child nor her. Now then, what happens if he changes his mind once it's born. If she hasn't named him on the certificate as the father, which he's not the slightest bit bothered about, what rights will he have regards access etc. Thanks tiggeralix. guess that's the answer i wouldn't hope for!

[mycats]

His name being on the birth certificate or not have nothing to do with his parental rights I'm afraid.

[tiggeralix]

actually mycats it does, in 2003 either spetember or december a new law came into practice that a father had to be asked his permission over being put on the birth certificate as it automatically gives him equal parental responsibility. my daughter was born in 2004 and her father was asked if he wanted to be on the birth certificate - when asked the reason for the question that was the explanation myself and others were given

[JustSia]

Whether or not on a birth certificate if he believes to be the father he can apply for contact. It might require him getting a paternity test but there is nothing to stop him.

In any case, it doesn't matter what the relationship is like between the mother and the father. I would have thought the child's interests were more important. And if the father would genuinely like to see the child than the mother should hide her pride and think of what is best for the child in the long run.

[amyunicorn]

here we can't put the father's name on the birth certificate unless he signs it himself, but even if they don't at birth, they can always come back and say hey, I'm the father and do a paternity test.

the mother would be smart to go to the courts and file for full custody with no visitation as soon as the child is born (if you can't do it sooner) based on any circumstances she could provide (start writing them down now and see a lawyer asap)

[Dagman]

Thanks for all your answers :)

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Just to clarify, the rights of the father may have changed but the procedure for the birth certificate havent.

Unmarried couples must be present together when registering the childs birth. A mother who is not married to father cannot put his name on the certificate.