UK Family Court·Insights for litigants in person
Gap 296

Assumption: "Having parental responsibility means I'm entitled to know exactly where my child lives and every detail about their day-to-day life."

1 min read

This content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.

What People Expect

A parent with parental responsibility may believe this entitles them to know exactly where their child lives and to be told every detail of the child's day-to-day life.

Court Reality

Parental responsibility entitles a parent to be kept informed about a child's welfare, health, and education, typically through regular, sufficiently detailed updates. It does not override a resident parent's safety-based decision to withhold specific details, such as an exact address or which nursery or school a child attends, particularly where there have been findings of domestic abuse against the other parent.

Share this gap

Download the card and post it on Facebook, LinkedIn, or wherever you're active. Every share helps another litigant find this before their hearing.

Bridge The Gap

The Gap?

"Having parental responsibility means I'm entitled to know exactly where my child lives and every detail about their day-to-day life."

Court Reality

Parental responsibility entitles a parent to be kept informed about a child's welfare, health, and education, typically through regular, sufficiently detailed updates. It does not override a resident parent's safety-based decision to withhold specific details, such as an exact address or which nursery or school a child attends, particularly where there have been findings of domestic abuse against the other parent.

Experienced a gap between what you thought you knew about family court and the reality? Share your own and get credited.

familycourtbridge.org

Published22 September 2026Last reviewed22 September 2026

Navigating court alone?

A McKenzie Friend can help you make sense of this in the context of your own case.

Find your support

Cookie Consent

We use essential cookies only to provide you with the best experience on our website. No tracking or analytics cookies are used.