How many legal parents may a child have?

Correct Answer: 2

Reference: A child can only have two legal parents. This is different from legal parental responsibility.

What is the maximum number of adults who may hold legal parental responsibility for a child?

Correct Answer: Unlimited

Reference: There is no limit on the number of adults who may hold PR for a child. The number depends
on the circumstances, formal agreements entered into, and orders made.

In which of the following circumstances will the Local Authority gain parental responsibility for a
child?

Correct Answer: When the child is subject to a care order, interim care order, or emergency protection
order, and the order is made without the consent of the other holders of parental responsibility.

Reference: When children are looked after by the Local Authority with the agreement of the other
holders of parental responsibility (under section 20 of the Children Act 1989), the Local Authority does
not gain parental responsibility for the child. When an order is made under section 31 of the Children
Act 1989, the parents and Local Auhtority share parental responsibility. When a Supervision Order is
made under Section 35 of the Children Act 1989, the Local Authority does not gain parental
responsibility.

The court can now award parental responsibility to a father as part of a child arrangements order
which grants contact, without the need for a separate parental responsibility order. Is this true or
false?

Correct Answer: True

Reference: It is true, but the granting of parental responsibility is not automatic but at the discretion of
the court. This change came about as a result of the Children and Families Act 2014.

A sperm donor is never a legal parent for a child. Is this true or false?

Correct Answer: It depends.

Reference: Where a child is conceived via sperm donation outside of a UK registered fertility clinic, if the
birth mother is not married or in a civil partnership at the time of conception, the second legal parent
will be the donor father. Where a UK licensed fertility clinic is involved, The birth mother can sign an
agreement through the clinic to name her partner (if they are not married or in a civil partnership)
and/or the biological father (if the donor is known) as second legal parent.
Jane wants a baby. She enters into a surrogacy arrangement with Wendy to carry the child to term.
Sue donates an egg which is artificially inseminated and placed in Wendy's womb. Which of the three
women is the child's legal parent at birth?

Correct Answer: Wendy

Reference: The gestational mother (the one who carries the child to term) is the legal parent. An order
for adoption or a parental order (different from a parental responsibility order) is required to transfer
parentage from the surrogate mother to the other parties named in the order who then become the
legal parents.

Wendy, the surrogate mother, is not biologically related to the child. She entered into a contract with
Jane before the child was conceived and agreed to give up the child to Jane after the birth. Wendy
decides, when the child is born she doesn't want to give the child to Jane and wishes to bring up the
child herself. Can she change her mind?

Correct Answer: Yes

Reference: Surrogacy contracts are not enforceable under UK law. The woman who carries the child to
term is the legal parent, and only adoption or a parental order (different from a parental responsibility
order) can transfer parentage (and a parental order cannot be entered into in the first six weeks
following the birth).

Parental responsibility imparts a duty to financially provide for a child. Is this true or false?

Correct Answer: False

Reference: Being the legal parent confers this responsibility, not the separate status of parental
responsibility.

Which of the following automatically have parental responsibility for a child?

Correct Answer: A special guardian.

Reference: In the above list, only a special guardian has parental responsibility for a child (granted via a
special guardianship order). Where a child is placed in foster care, the foster carer does not gain
parental responsibility.
A special guardian may take children abroad for how long, without the consent of each other holder
of parental responsibility or an order from the court?

Correct Answer: Up to three months.

Reference: A special guardian may take children abroad for up to three months without the consent of
other holders of parental responsibility.

Step-parents acquire parental responsibility for children when they marry the child's mother or
father. Is this..?

Correct Answer: False

Reference: A step parent may acquire parental responsibility in a number of ways, but not simply as a
result of being in a relationship with a parent.

Where a couple have a child involving donor insemination (on or after April 2009), the birth mother’s
partner can be named on the birth certificate as the other parent if married to or in a civil partnership
with the mother at the time of conception. Is this..?

Correct Answer: True

Reference: See the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008

Which rights and obligations are not automatically granted to or imposed upon those who are legal
parents?

Correct Answer: Right to decisions about education and medical treatment.

Reference: Rights and responsibilities in relation to schooling and education are imparted through
acquisition of legal parental responsibility which is different.