Would a father on the birth certificate get 50-50 access to a child if the parents never married?

[Whatsmyusername94]

wondering if a father on the birth certificate gets exactly the same rights as the mother even if they were never married? Could a father have 50/50 access by law granted there is no serious reason he can’t have them?

I might be wrong but don't think marriage counts anymore it was changed to 'parental responsibility' about 2007 or something?

Yes because each parent has equal parental responsibility

I don't see why they would have to be married. If he's the childs father and there's no reason to not have 50/50 e.g abuse, age of the child or distance etc then yes he would likely get it.

Could a father have 50/50 access by law granted there is no serious reason he can’t have them?

of course! Why wouldn’t they?

Thank you for clearing that up. It is just the mother in this situation doesn’t agree the father should have 50/50 access/responsibility even though the father is on the birth certificate

Maybe the mother should have thought of this before having sex

It is what is best for the child not what the mum thinks she can control

100% agree. Hate mothers that make access difficult

And what are her reasons? Because he is a risk somehow or because she believes herself superior?

Thankfully yes they would and should.

It is about what is best for the child .

it is age dependent - a newborn baby needs to be with primary carers .

A absent parent should build up time .

Distance parents live apart is another factor .. parents who live 1 1/2 hours away it is not feasible for school.

I have no idea of your situation just pointing out 50/50 isn’t all black and white.

It's not always unreasonable to disagree with 50/50. For example, if the father has been absent for several years he can't expect to be granted 50/50 for a child who would essentially view him as a stranger. Or if the child is a very young baby, contact should be little and often, not long stretches away from the primary carer.

Both parents have equal parental responsibility and 50/50 access is most likely to be granted if its in the best interests of the child.

Marriage doesn't matter.

We're not married. When our first child was born we had to get a form notarised to give DP parental responsibility. By the time our second was born it had changed to being named on the birth certificate gave fathers automatic PR.

I think early days the baby would need to be with the main carer and as time goes on the other parent would spend more time with the child. My friends ,who are divorced with older children, have arrangements where the children spend more time with both parents. A secure attachment is so important for children in the early years rather than treating a child like a possession.

@Whatsmyusername94 "100% agree. Hate mothers that make access difficult"

Sometimes it is the right thing to do. And it's always worth thinking about why a father wants 50/50 and how they are gong to manage it. Not all fathers have the best interests of their children at heart.

Technically yes.

But in reality it depends. Is the father reliable, abusive, using 50/50 to get out of maintenance and palm his kids off on his family or a new partner, age of children and distance to other parent (they may have clubs and actives to keep up with).

It depends. Marrìed or not, on the birth certificate or not, he's not getting 50:50 access to a newborn baby or a 15 year old who doesn't want it.

What exactly is the situation?

getting your name on the birth certificate gives the father parental rights.

If mother who is presumably the parent with care decides not to allow contact with the father or they disagree as to the amount of contact then it will make going to court a bit simpler but it doesnt necessarily grant the father any particular right of access

Why is it worth thinking about why the father wants 50/50 access? Maybe because he is the child’s father? We don’t question how a mother is going to manage it, so why are wondering if a fully grown man can manage?
I don’t think a father who does not have the child’s best interest at heart would not be wanting regular access imo

How old is the child? What's your involvement?

It is parental responsibility not rights. Access is about what is in the best interests of a child. Very different to a dolly that could be cut in half. A newborn baby needs their mother. Dad's should spend time little and often with baby, to build up at an age appropriate time. A good father would want what is best for their child, rather than crying 'it's not fair'.

That's rather naive. Many men who don't have the child's best interests at heart pursue contact.

Because he was late to pick him up once by 10 minutes on one occasion so he wasn’t allowed to see him anymore

Are you the father in this situation or the girlfriend?

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 ohhhhh lock him in the tower!!!