Parental responsibility — who has it, how to get it, what it means
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29
What parental responsibility (PR) is
Parental responsibility means all the legal rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority a parent has for a child and the child's property. In plain terms:
- Deciding where the child lives
- Choosing their school
- Consenting to medical treatment
- Applying for a passport
- Protecting and maintaining the child
- Being consulted about major decisions
Who automatically has PR
| Person | PR? | |--------|-----| | Mother | ✅ Always | | Father married to the mother | ✅ Always | | Father named on birth certificate (post 1 Dec 2003) | ✅ Yes | | Father NOT on birth certificate (pre-2003 or unnamed) | ❌ Not automatically | | Civil partner of the mother (same rules as fathers) | Depends | | Step-parent | ❌ Not automatically |
How to get PR if you don't have it
1. PR Agreement (Form C(PRA2))
- Signed by you and everyone who already has PR
- Free — lodged at any family court
- No hearing needed
- Best option when everyone agrees
2. PR Order
- Court order granting PR where the other PR holders refuse to agree
- The court considers: your commitment, attachment, reason, and the effect on the child
- Applied for on a C1 form (fee applies)
3. Marriage to the mother
- Automatic PR if you marry the mother after the child's birth
4. Child arrangements order ("lives with")
- If the court makes an order saying the child lives with you, PR is automatically granted to you
What PR gives you
- The right to be consulted about education, medical care, religion
- The right to consent to medical treatment and passport applications
- The right to apply for orders about the child
- The duty to protect and maintain the child
What PR does NOT give you
- The right to see the child (that's contact — a child arrangements order)
- The right to override the other PR holder on day-to-day decisions
- The right to change the child's surname without all PR holders' consent
- The right to remove the child from the UK without consent or a court order
If the other parent has PR and blocks contact
See our enforcement and child arrangements guides. Blocking contact without a court order or good reason can be challenged through the family court.
Official links
- PR: https://www.gov.uk/parental-rights-responsibilities
- C(PRA2) agreement: https://www.gov.uk/parental-responsibility-agreements
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/section/2
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS or gov.uk.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.