Do i have parental responsibilty?

[jlroberts15]

My boyfriend's son is 4 years old, his name is on the birth certificate but does that automatically give parental responsibility over important issues such as health, welfare and education?

[Pippa68]

Any unmarried father to a child born after December 2003 is given automatic Parental Responsibility (and about time too!)

Unfortunately your boyfriend will have to go to court in order to acheive this ~ at the moment he has no rights other than having to pay maintenance.

[mycats]

Your question asks if YOU have parental responsibilty. Er if that's what you meant then no, you dont

[gloshette]

If your boyfriend and the mother of the child were not married then no he does not have parental responsiblity,(and you as his partner never will even if you marry, you will only get it if you adopt the child ) the mother will have to sign for all documents, including future passports etc........ however, if the relationship isnt too bad with your partner and the mother, you can contact a solicitor and get one written up... (we did this -cost us about �30 ). Its just a case of all parents signing a form and then it going to the court to be stamped...no-one needs to be present, we did ours via the post. As long as everyone is ok with it, and the mother doesnt object to the father having PR, no reason to involve any courts or lawyers more than is necc'.

Hope this helps :)

[jlroberts15]

That's what i thought, thanks very much for your help.