Certain decisions and actions can only be taken in respect of a child by the person with parental responsibility.
Where two persons have parental responsibility, for example the married parents of a child, each may exercise that responsibility independently – in most cases. If agreement cannot be reached on a particular question then the court has power to intervene.
The consent of everyone with parental responsibility is usually needed:
- to change a child’s name; or
- to take a child out of the country.
The consent of a person with parental responsibility is necessary before a child may receive medical treatment.
Education authorities and schools generally only communicate with a person with parental responsibility.
There are many other circumstances where a parent without parental responsibility has no authority to deal with matters on behalf of a child.