What does Parental Responsibility mean?

The statutory definition of “Parental Responsibility “includes the “rights, duties and responsibilities of the parent”.

The Court held in a 2015 case that warring parents are too often focused on their rights and overlook or minimise their duties and responsibilities.   The Judge went on to state that Parental Responsibility is much more than a legal concept but a fundamentally important reflection of the realities of the human condition and the very essence of a parent/child relationship.  It signifies both parents’ duties to their child.

This case related to a situation where the children refused to spend time with their Father and the Mother did not assist by exhibiting hostility towards the Father in the presence of the children. 

No matter what the age of the child, parents should not shirk their responsibility by sheltering behind a child’s refusal to do something. 

Parenting, particularly of headstrong teenagers, is very tough, but parental responsibility did not shrivel away in relation to such children and they have to do their level best to ensure compliance by the children.

This article is for information only.

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