Parental Responsibility ======================= **If you need advice or representation on any Children Law matters, click below for a free initial consultation with one of our expert Children solicitors.** [BOOK MY FREE CONSULTATION](https://vardags.com/contact) ### Changing a child's surname --- Names are central to our identity and how we construct a sense of self, both on an individual level and in terms of how we relate to our families and the wider world. They affect how we are seen and how we see ourselves. The definition of a surname... [Find out more](https://vardags.com/law-guide/parental-responsibility/changing-a-childs-surname "Changing a child's surname") ### Failure to pay child maintenance --- Who pays child maintenance? Although no two families are the same, and every domestic situation is different, when parents separate, there is often one parent who takes over day-to-to day care of the children. This will also be the parent... [Find out more](https://vardags.com/law-guide/parental-responsibility/failure-to-pay-child-maintenance "Failure to pay child maintenance") ### Local Authority Parental Responsibility --- What is parental responsibility? Parental responsibility (PR) is defined in the Children Act 1989 as the "rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority" which a parent of a child obtains, by law, in relation to the child. In practical terms, this... [Find out more](https://vardags.com/law-guide/parental-responsibility/local-authority-parental-responsibility "Local Authority Parental Responsibility") ### Resolving disputes over a child's medical treatment --- Discussions surrounding a child's medical treatment are contained within the ambit of parental responsibility. Parental responsibility is defined in section 2 of the Children Act 1989 as "all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and... [Find out more](https://vardags.com/law-guide/parental-responsibility/resolving-disputes-over-a-childs-medical-treatment "Resolving disputes over a child's medical treatment") ### Special Guardianship Orders --- What is the role of a special guardian? A special guardian is an adult who has been appointed under a special guardianship order (SGO) to care for a child on a long-term basis. An SGO falls somewhere between a child arrangements order (which determines where a child... [Find out more](https://vardags.com/law-guide/parental-responsibility/special-guardianship-orders "Special Guardianship Orders") ### Guide to stepparent rights --- Rights of step-parents When trying to understand your rights to a child, it is important to make the distinction between being a parent and having parental responsibility. The two are not the same thing. For example, biologically you can be a child's parent, however... [Find out more](https://vardags.com/law-guide/parental-responsibility/guide-to-step-parent-rights "Guide to stepparent rights") ### Parental Orders - Surrogacy --- What is a parental order? Parental orders are used where a child is born via a surrogacy arrangement in order to transfer parental rights from the birth mother to the people that are going to raise the child as the intended parents. This is a very important order since... [Find out more](https://vardags.com/law-guide/parental-responsibility/parental-order "Parental Orders - Surrogacy") The information on this website is intended as a guide and does not constitute legal advice. Vardags do not accept liability for any errors in the information on this website, nor any losses stemming from reliance upon the statements made herein. All articles and pages aim to reflect the legal position at time they were published, and may have been rendered obsolete by subsequent developments in the law. Should you require specialist advice, tailored to your situation, please see how Vardags can help you. What our clients say -------------------- An extremely capable & exceptionally committed family law team for medium-to-very high wealth individuals led by the financial genius Dr Stephen Bence and highly distinguished Ayesha Vardag. Martin Waters I feel safer and not alone, knowing that I have Nicola's support - securing her to act for me was a huge weight lifted. No matter what the result, I am confident that she will have secured the best outcome possible. C I am so happy I got to make the call to Vardags first! Excellent service. Whole team of forensics that I would have been totally lost without. I really cannot thank you enough for a perfect outcome to a complicated and not easy... case. Your care throughout was amazing. Christina Wolff I hope you don't need it, but if you do, I would highly recommend Vardags. Xiao Ma A responsive and helpful service; quick to understand and advise on the issues. Ian Smith Do not think twice about engaging this firm, they have been nothing short of brilliant, and in my opinion you will not find better. Nicole Barnes