4. ‘The Mother automatically has care of any children’

There is no legal presumption that one parent should automatically care for the children of the marriage on separation.

It is becoming increasingly common for both parents to return to work full time with the parents sharing care of the children, or the husband staying at home or working part time to care for the children.

On marriage both parents hold parental responsibility for their biological children. This means that they share this legal responsibility for their children, are automatically entitled to information from schools, GPs etc and should be consulted on important decisions regarding, for example, education and health.

Where arrangements for the children cannot be agreed amicably between you it is important to seek further legal advice.