Father who showed no interest in his child loses parental responsibility

A father with serious criminal convictions who showed no interest in his daughter has lost parental responsibility for her.

Sarah Tweedie, Associate Solicitor in our Family Law team, reports on this recent case.

The father had parental responsibility for the two-year-old girl, referred to as A because he was her biological father and was named as such on the birth certificate.

The issue arose when the girl’s mother applied to the court to have parental responsibility removed.

Both the mother and father agreed on the father’s paternity of A, which initially established his parental rights.

Courts hesitate to remove a father’s parental rights when he is listed on the birth certificate. However, in this case, the court considered several important factors.

The father had a history of severe criminal behaviour and had shown no interest in his daughter’s life. He had never provided any financial support or participated in her upbringing in any capacity.

This lack of involvement, combined with the father’s criminal past, led to significant distress for the mother. She feared future complications if she needed his consent for decisions regarding A’s education or medical needs.

The judge decided that removing the father’s parental responsibility was in the girl’s best interest. This decision allowed the mother to make necessary decisions for her daughter without needing the father’s approval, ensuring greater stability and security for both mother and daughter.

For more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of family law please contact Sarah on 01434 603656 or click here to send her an email.