Open petition: Amend the Children Act to make parental responsibility enforceable

Created by Corrina Jones
Closes on 30 January 2027

Amend section 3 of the Children Act 1989 to define enforceable financial and practical duties attached to parental responsibility, with proportionate consequences where a parent who has the ability to contribute persistently and deliberately fails to meet them.

Parental responsibility should mean enforceable duties to the child, not just legal rights. Some parents retain rights, seek court orders or claim shared care while providing little reliable practical or financial support. The law should require fair financial contribution, accurate income information and dependable agreed care, with consequences for deliberate non-payment, repeated cancellations, hidden income and abusive court applications. The child’s welfare must always come first.

Sign this petition