If the parents are married, or if the child was born after 1 December 2003 and the father is named on the birth certificate, both parents of a child have joint parental responsibility for that child before, during and after divorce or separation. This term describes all of the rights, duties and responsibilities which, by law, a parent of a child has in relation to that child. Aspects of parental responsibility include decisions about a child’s religion, education, name and medical treatment. Parental responsibility can also be granted to a person by order of the Court and in some cases can be restricted or removed.
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