Part IIntroductory
4Acquisition of parental responsibility by father
1
Where a child’s father and mother were not married to each other at the time of his birth—
a
the court may, on the application of the father, order that he shall have parental responsibility for the child; or
b
the father and mother may by agreement (“a parental responsibility agreement”) provide for the father to have parental responsibility for the child.
2
No parental responsibility agreement shall have effect for the purposes of this Act unless—
a
it is made in the form prescribed by regulations made by the Lord Chancellor; and
b
where regulations are made by the Lord Chancellor prescribing the manner in which such agreements must be recorded, it is recorded in the prescribed manner.
3
Subject to section 12(4), an order under subsection (1)(a), or a parental responsibility agreement, may only be brought to an end by an order of the court made on the application—
a
of any person who has parental responsibility for the child; or
b
with leave of the court, of the child himself.
4
The court may only grant leave under subsection (3)(b) if it is satisfied that the child has sufficient understanding to make the proposed application.