Parental Responsibility and Children's Rights

Parental Responsibility is defined by the Children Act 1989 as being all the rights, duties, powers and responsibility which a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his or her property. It includes rights and duties with regard to education, choice of religion, administration of a child’s property and choice of residence. It is important to note that all the provisions of the Children Act 1989 are subject to the guiding principle of the child’s best interests and consequently the exercise of parental responsibility to limitations where disputes arise either between holders of parental responsibility or between parents and children.

Parental responsibility lasts until the child is 18, although at that upper end of childhood it should only be exercised in a way, which is consistent with the child’s evolving capacity and maturity. Having parental responsibility is legally distinct from being recognised as a child’s mother or father.