- Provides a new
framework in statute for the relationship between
parents and their children.
- Introduces new
statements of parental responsibilities and
rights, including the responsibility and right to
maintain contact if the child is not living with
the parent.
- Encourages parents
who have parental responsibilities and rights to
jointly take control in the raising of their
children, so that both parents - even after
divorce or separation - should continue to play a
full role in the upbringing of their children.
- Stipulates that
children, bearing in mind their age and maturity,
should be consulted on all major decisions
affecting them.
- Reaffirms the
principle that in deciding whether or not to make
an order which affects the child, a court must
make the welfare of the child its paramount
concern.
- Places a duty on the
court not to make any order unless it considers
that it would be better for the child to do so
than not to do so.
- Gives the child the
opportunity to express his or her views about any
decision sought from the court, if the child
chooses to do so.
- Allows a child (even
under the age of 16 years) to instruct a
solicitor.
- Makes it clear that a
child can apply for legal aid.
- Introduces a new
legal procedure for unmarried fathers to acquire
parental responsibilities and rights by formal
agreement with the child’s mother.
- Allows, if it is
necessary to do so, for the court to make orders
to reinforce parental responsibilities and
rights.
- Introduces new
provisions for guardianship and administration of
children’s property.
|
