Welcome to the DAD.Info forum: We are not open to new posts at this time
Our forum aims to provide support and guidance where it can, however we may not always have the answer. The forum is not moderated 24 hours a day, so If you – or someone you know – are being harmed or in immediate danger of being harmed, call the police on 999.
Alternatively, if you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please click here: How we can help
Hi,
I have a very good relationship with my two children (11 & 9) and have parental responsibility for them as i a was married to their mother when both born. Four years on and now divorced things are amicable and i have my children to stay with me for slightly over a third of the year. Relationship with their mother is good. She is now re-married and the new chap is a very nice bloke who looks after the kids like his own.
My ex wife has now asked me to agree to authorise parental responsibility for him. I can see the benefits for this in areas like medical decisions should both myself and mother be away... however what actual control do i lose in areas like, change of Surname? Moving abroad permanently? or if they were to divorce would he still have parental responsibility?
I am just concerned that in certain scenarios i could be exposed to lack of control.
As a very hands on Dad (who is not the main parent but has the kids every week) would you think this is a good idea to allow this to happen and would you be able to answer my questions above.
Many Thanks if you can assist with some advice.
Kind Regards
Hi Sean and welcome
It's so good to hear of an example where everything is working just as it should - I'm sure there are plenty more, we just don't hear about them too often.
If you give permission, then you do lose a little in that there are more people with that responsibility, but where its working well, as in your case, I don't see it as a problem. If there was a real problem, I don't think that PR would make a massive amount of difference - you could still go to the court for a prohibited steps order.
On the other hand, what might be the consequences if you refuse - your ex could apply to the court to get it, and it could result in the breakdown of a very amicable arrangement.
I would say that in your case, talking it through with your ex and her husband really is the way to go (though perhaps you may want to leave out the bit about what happens if she divorces) as I think the relationship you all have now is brilliant for everyone concerned.
- Samaritans – call 116 123
- Shout – text the word ‘Shout’ to 85258
