At First Law Solicitors, we help parents secure, define, and exercise their Parental Responsibility, which forms the legal foundation for every significant decision concerning a child’s life. Whether you are a mother, father, or guardian, we ensure that your rights and duties are recognised, enforced, and respected under English law.
Based in Manchester and serving clients across England and Wales, we are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID No: 665823). Each matter is personally overseen by a solicitor with over twenty years of post-qualification experience in child law, parental rights, and family justice.
Parental Responsibility is the legal term used to describe the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities, and authority that a parent holds in relation to their child. It includes the authority to make key decisions about a child’s education and choice of school, medical treatment and healthcare, religion and cultural upbringing, name changes and passport applications, and matters relating to travel and residence.
Under section 3(1) of the Children Act 1989, all mothers automatically have Parental Responsibility. Fathers acquire Parental Responsibility if they were married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth, if they are named on the birth certificate for children born after 1 December 2003, or if they obtain it through a Parental Responsibility Agreement or a court order.
Where a parent does not automatically have Parental Responsibility, it can be obtained in several ways. One option is a Parental Responsibility Agreement, which is a formal written agreement signed by both parents and registered with the Family Court. We prepare and register these agreements to ensure that they are legally enforceable and fully compliant with the prescribed Form C (PRA1) requirements.
If agreement cannot be reached, a Parental Responsibility Order may be sought by applying to the Family Court under section 4(1)(c) of the Children Act 1989. In deciding whether to grant such an order, the court considers the applicant’s level of commitment to the child, the strength of the existing relationship, and the reasons for seeking Parental Responsibility.
Parental Responsibility may also be acquired by step-parents, same-sex partners, and guardians through a court order under section 4A of the Children Act 1989, through adoption, or through a Child Arrangements Order where the child is ordered to live with them. We manage all procedural steps in these cases, from initial negotiation through to digital filing on the MyHMCTS platform, ensuring full compliance with the Family Procedure Rules 2025.
Where both parents hold Parental Responsibility, they are expected to consult each other on all major issues affecting the child’s welfare. While day-to-day decisions, such as clothing or meals, may be made independently by the parent caring for the child at the time, long-term matters require joint discussion or, where necessary, legal resolution.
Our solicitors assist clients in establishing clear parenting protocols that reduce conflict and support effective shared decision-making, helping Parental Responsibility operate smoothly in practice.
Disputes about how Parental Responsibility is exercised commonly arise in relation to schooling, medical treatment, or international relocation. We advise and represent parents in applications for Specific Issue Orders, which allow the court to determine a single point of disagreement, and Prohibited Steps Orders, which prevent one parent from taking unilateral action such as changing a child’s surname or removing them from the United Kingdom.
These orders are made under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 and are always assessed against the Welfare Checklist, ensuring that the child’s best interests remain the court’s paramount consideration.
Recent developments in family law, including the 2025 Family Procedure amendments and evolving case law, recognise a wider range of family structures. Parental Responsibility can now extend to step-parents in blended families, civil partners and same-sex spouses, and non-biological parents recognised through surrogacy or donor arrangements under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.
We provide specialist advice in these modern and complex contexts, ensuring that Parental Responsibility is secured lawfully and that each parent’s role is properly recognised.
Following the Domestic Abuse Act 2024 and the 2025 family justice reforms, the court must be satisfied that the granting or exercise of Parental Responsibility does not expose a child or parent to harm. We assist survivors of abuse in securing Parental Responsibility safely, supported by protective measures such as remote hearings, screens, and separate waiting arrangements where required.
Our approach is protective, trauma-informed, and firmly focused on the welfare of the child.
By 2026, Parental Responsibility applications and agreements are handled through digitally authenticated submissions using Qualified Electronic Signatures. We manage every stage through the MyHMCTS Family Digital Service, ensuring efficient paperless filing and secure data handling in compliance with the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
We also use Predictive Case Modelling, drawing on judicial data from 2025 and 2026 to forecast the likely outcome of Parental Responsibility disputes. This allows clients to approach proceedings with a clear understanding of risk, strategy, and likely outcomes before decisions are made.
At First Law Solicitors, our work is defined by a careful balance of compassion and control. We ensure that parental rights are formally recognised and safely exercised, that every legal and procedural requirement is met with precision, and that long-term parenting frameworks are built to support family stability.
We see each client as a family navigating change rather than a legal problem to be processed. Our aim is to provide lasting clarity, safety, and peace of mind.
If you need to secure, clarify, or protect your Parental Responsibility, contact First Law Solicitors today. Our solicitors provide strategic and compassionate advice focused on safeguarding your rights and your child’s welfare.
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