	Parenting in Torbay Torbay Council Commerce House 97 - 101 Abbey Road Torquay TQ2 5PJ
	fisenquiries @torbay.gov.uk
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	01803 207871 (fax)

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Father's Rights

Before the Birth

Antenatal appointments are really important and give you the chance to see a scan of your baby and to support your partner if there's any bad news.

Unfortunately, you don't have the right to take time off to attend these appointments. Talk to your employer, explain why they're important and offer to put in extra hours to make up the time if necessary.

Early Labour

Fathers have the legal right to take unpaid time off work to deal with an emergency involving someone who depends on them. You can't be penalised by your employer for taking the time off, providing the reason is genuine.

This includes your partner going into labour or any other emergency around pregnancy.

Paternity Leave

Some companies have their own paternity leave schemes but if your employer doesn't you're entitled to two weeks' statutory paid paternity leave of £112.75 a week.

You don't have to be married. You don't have to live with the mother. You don't need a birth certificate to prove you're the dad.

You just have to be a new or adoptive dad - and be prepared to offer some evidence of fatherhood if you're asked.

The Rules

You must warn your boss at least 15 weeks before your child is due
You must have worked for your employer for at least 41 weeks before the baby's due date
Leave must be taken in one block or in two separate weeks within 56 days of the baby's birth, you can't just take odd days off
You can take paternity leave even if your baby is premature.
If you're on a low income, you may also receive benefits such as Income Support while on paternity leave

Parental Leave and Flexible Working

You and your partner can also each claim up to four weeks' unpaid leave in the year after the birth.

In the first five years, you can claim up to 13 weeks in total.

You also have the right to ask for flexible working and your boss has to give your request serious consideration.

Parental Responsibility

Mothers automatically have parental responsibility (PR) for their children, but it's more complicated for dads. Yet PR is vital for your children's welfare. Without parental responsibility you can't authorize medical treatment for your child and don't have the right to see their medical records.

If you have PR, your child can't be adopted, have their surname changed or be taken out of the country without your agreement. You're automatically entitled to PR if you're married to your child's mother.

If you're not married to your child's mother you can automatically get PR provided you register the birth along with the mother.

If a mother prevents you from gaining PR, you can seek a parental responsibility order through the courts.

Source: BBC October 2007

Local Groups & Workshops

Groups and workshops give you the opportunity to share your experiences with other parents and discuss fresh ideas on how you and your children can make the most of life. For further information on local contacts and groups in your area contact:

For under 5s

Torquay Sure Start Children's Centres: 01803 329666
Paignton and Brixham Children's Centre: 01803 556081

For over 10s

Call Leigh on 01803 402863 or Becky on 01803 402865

Cluster Teams

Visit the Cluster Teams page for further information on the four teams in Torbay.