Can a parent lose parental responsibility?
A mother or married father will only lose parental responsibility if the child is adopted or freed for adoption. An unmarried father’s parental responsibility can be ended by a court, either on an application by anyone with parental responsibility, or by the child if he or she has the court’s leave (permission) to apply. The child’s welfare will be the court’s paramount consideration. Parental responsibility ends when a child is 18 unless it is ended earlier by a court.
A mother or married father will only lose parental responsibility if the child is adopted or freed for adoption. An unmarried father’s parental responsibility can be ended by a court, either on an application by anyone with parental responsibility, or by the child if they have the court’s leave (permission) to apply. The child’s welfare will be the court’s paramount consideration. Parental responsibility ends when a child is 18 unless it is ended earlier by a court.
