Pros, cons and things to consider about NOT putting a father’s name on the birth certificate. UK answers only

It means that he'll have no legal parental right to see/look after baby xx

Okay. Thank you Hannah! Actually asking for a friend. I’m not based in UK anymore but where I’m based not putting the fathers name on there doesn’t impact child support too much. It just means when it comes to child support family court would force a paternity test if he was refusing to pay.

So that’s good to know I’ll tell her to ask CA

Yeah I assumed so. Asking on behalf of a good friend. I would assume though the father could legally force a paternity test and pursue seeing the child/custody that way?

They could but it'll have to go through the courts and social services, visits to both Mom and 'Dads' house would be conducted to ensure the parents are fit and baby will be safe ect ect. A paternity test would be conducted to get child support too

only if both parents are on the birth cert

He won’t have parental responsibility for the child. That means he can’t make decisions and doesn’t need to be consulted about decisions regarding health, holidays, school etc. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t have rights to his child or vice versa and he can apply to court for parental responsibility and for contact with the child. If the father isn’t present at the appointment to register the baby then he can’t go on so if he’s ghosting he doesn’t have a choice.

He can refuse to pay child support and if he isn’t named on the cert then if it was to go to court for child maintenance he would have to do a dna and then the court can add him. However if your friend is happy with no financial help then it’s fine. It also will mean he has no legal rights of the child

If both parents are there you also need both parents written consent for someone to take them on holiday without you. (May not be relevant to all but my step son is being taken to Cyprus to meet his extended family in a couple of weeks and both parents have needed to give written consent)

If she’s financially ok, I wouldn’t put his name as he’s not going to be a role model if he’s ghosting already.

do you know what would happen if my baby’s dad isn’t on the birth certificate but takes him behind my back to see family I don’t want to? Can I ring the police?

the police will say it’s a civil matter unless they’re at risk there. You’d have to go to court to prevent it in future.