Father's Rights Checker

Understanding your legal rights as a separated father is the first step to protecting your relationship with your children. Whether you have parental responsibility, what contact arrangements you can expect, and what to do when things go wrong are all covered. Answer a few questions about your situation and get a clear summary of your rights.

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Check what legal rights you have as a separated father. Takes 2 minutes.

1 Were you married to the mother?

2 Are you named on the birth certificate?

3 Do you have a court order in place?

4 What is your current contact situation?

5 Describe your situation

Your privacy is protected. We do not store personal information. Names, addresses and details you enter are automatically removed.

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This tool provides general information about UK family law as it applies to fathers. It is not legal advice. Every situation is different and you should consult a qualified family solicitor for advice specific to your circumstances.

What this tool does

Rights Checker gives you a quick read on where you stand legally as a separated dad in the UK. You tell it a bit about your circumstances, and it tells you what rights you have, what you might need to apply for, and what the law says about contact with your children.

It is not legal advice, but it is a solid starting point so you know what questions to ask and what to do next.

When to use it

If you have recently separated, or your relationship with your children's mother has broken down, this is a good first stop. It is also useful if you are unsure whether you have parental responsibility, if contact has been stopped or reduced, or if you are being kept out of decisions about school, medical care or where your children live.

It covers a range of situations including unmarried fathers, fathers who are not on the birth certificate, fathers going through divorce, and fathers whose ex-partner has moved or is planning to move with the children. If you are happy with your current arrangements and just want to understand the background law, it works for that too.

How it works

You answer a short set of questions about your situation, things like whether you were married, whether you are on the birth certificate, and what is happening with contact at the moment. Based on your answers, you get a plain English summary of your rights, the practical options open to you, and sensible next steps such as mediation, a solicitor, or a court application. Your answers are not stored and you do not need to give your name or email to use it.

If anything in the summary is unclear, or your situation is more complicated than the questions allow for, it is worth speaking to a family law solicitor. Many offer a free first chat, and some of the articles on this site point you towards free or low cost legal help.

8 Comments

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SeparatedDads Editor 2 Sep 2026

@Dogfish Eighteen months of missed calls is a clear breach of the order and you should be logging every attempt with dates and times. Take that log to a solicitor and apply to enforce, or vary the order if phone contact isn't working. Given she's now 11, the court will weigh her wishes more heavily, so it may be worth asking for a fresh Cafcass involvement and possibly indirect contact like letters or cards while things are rebuilt. Don't let another year drift by.

Dogfish 1 Sep 2026

I have a court order to a telephone call every fortnight but they don’t answer this has been ongoing for 18 month cafcass attended my home and advise that my daughter did not want to see me she was age 7 now she is 11

SeparatedDads Editor 28 Jul 2026

@Grandad Sorry to hear you're locked out of contact. Start by writing to the parent with care of the children, keeping it calm and in writing, proposing specific times and days. If that's ignored, try a family mediator (MIAM); it's often required before court anyway. Grandparents don't have automatic rights but can apply for leave to seek a Child Arrangements Order, and courts generally view maintaining wider family bonds as being in the child's best interests.

Grandad 28 Jul 2026

Any help to resolve my situation where I can get to see my children and more importantly my children get to spend time with me and my family

SeparatedDads Editor 6 May 2026

@Dav Most family solicitors will talk you through what a MIAM actually is, namely an information and assessment meeting with a mediator, not a negotiation. They'll usually help you clarify what you want (in your case equal shared care), gather relevant background such as current routines, school arrangements, and any safeguarding concerns, and explain what mediation can and can't achieve before court becomes an option.

A solicitor may also help you frame your position calmly and child focused, which tends to land better than rights based language. Every case is different though, so it really is worth booking an initial consultation with a family law solicitor who can tailor advice to your circumstances. Resolution (resolution.org.uk) has a "find a member" tool for family lawyers who follow a non-confrontational code of practice.

Dav 6 May 2026

How do family solicitor prepare you normally for your first MIAM meeting about child care arrangements? If you want equal share care
Thanks

SeparatedDads Editor 2 May 2026

@Harry sounds like a difficult position to be in, and bail conditions can feel isolating, especially when they affect contact with family members involved in your children's lives. It's important that you stick to those conditions strictly, as any breach could make things significantly worse for you.

Re the legal aid even without evidence of domestic abuse, there may be other routes worth exploring. Some solicitors offer free initial consultations, and organisations like Citizens Advice or the Personal Support Unit can help you understand your options. Families Need Fathers also run support meetings where others who have been in similar situations can point you towards resources etc.

If criminal proceedings are ongoing, your duty solicitor should be your first port of call for anything related to the bail conditions themselves. Please do reach out for proper support so you don't have to work through this alone.

Harry 2 May 2026

My bail conditions say that I am not allowed to contact the grandmother at all. I can’t get legal aid solicitor because there is no proof of domestic abuse etc.

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