Do unmarried fathers have rights?
Yes he does. In England and Wales a father has “parental responsibility” under the following circumstances: He was married to the mother when the child was born or; He was not married to her at the time, but did so later and had this entered on the amended birth certificate or; He was not married to her, but attended the registration, signed the register, and is on the birth certificate or; He was given a Parental Responsibility Order by a court or; Was given parental responsibility by personal agreement with the mother out of court. Courts tend to grant PR Orders to any father who asks for one. This helps fulfil Britain’s obligations under UN conventions which demand that signatories guarantee in law the right of a child to maintain contact with both natural parents. In view of this, it is not for a mother to deny or reinstate the right to contact at her whim, and a court normally gives access to any parent who applies for it, except in the most exceptional of circumstances, and failu
