Section 4 continuedUnder the Children Act 1989, parental responsibility is heldautomatically by a child’s mother, <strong>an</strong>d by the child’s father ifhe <strong>an</strong>d the mother were married to each other at the time of thechild’s birth or have married subsequently. Where, a child’sfather <strong>an</strong>d mother are not married to each other at the time of thechild’s birth, the father may also acquire parental responsibility<strong>for</strong> that child, if he registers the birth after 1st December 2003, inaccord<strong>an</strong>ce with section 4(1)(a) of the Children Act 1989. Whereneither of these circumst<strong>an</strong>ces apply, the father, in accord<strong>an</strong>cewith the provisions of the Children Act 1989, c<strong>an</strong> acquire parentalresponsibility.From 30 December 2005, where a person who is not the child’sparent (“the step-parent”) is married to, or a civil partner of,a parent who has parental responsibility <strong>for</strong> that child, he orshe may also acquire parental responsibility <strong>for</strong> the child inaccord<strong>an</strong>ce with the provisions of the Children Act 1989.From 1st September 2009, specific provision has beenmade in relation to parental responsibility in certain casesinvolving assisted reproduction. Parental responsibility is heldautomatically by a wom<strong>an</strong> if—• she <strong>an</strong>d the child’s mother were in a civil partnership witheach other at the time of treatment unless that wom<strong>an</strong> didnot consent to the treatment; or• she is a parent of the child by virtue of section 43 ofthe Hum<strong>an</strong> Fertilisation <strong>an</strong>d Embryology Act 2008 <strong>an</strong>dsubsequently enters into a civil partnership with the mother.A wom<strong>an</strong> who is a parent of the child by virtue of section 43 ofthe 2008 Act but who does not subsequently enter into a civilpartnership with the mother may acquire parental responsibilityin accord<strong>an</strong>ce with the provisions of section 4ZA of the ChildrenAct 1989Section 5A <strong>non</strong>-<strong>molestation</strong> <strong>order</strong> c<strong>an</strong> <strong>for</strong>bid the respondent frommolesting you or a relev<strong>an</strong>t child. Molestation c<strong>an</strong> include,<strong>for</strong> example, violence, threats, pestering <strong>an</strong>d other <strong>for</strong>msof harassment. The court c<strong>an</strong> <strong>for</strong>bid particular acts of therespondent, <strong>molestation</strong> in general, or both.Section 6If you wish to apply <strong>for</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>occupation</strong> <strong>order</strong> but you areuncertain about your <strong>an</strong>swer to <strong>an</strong>y question in this part ofthe application <strong>for</strong>m, you should seek legal advice.(A) A dwelling-house includes <strong>an</strong>y building or part of a buildingwhich is occupied as a dwelling; <strong>an</strong>y carav<strong>an</strong>, houseboat orstructure which is occupied as a dwelling; <strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>y yard, garden,garage or outhouse belonging to it <strong>an</strong>d occupied with it.(C) & (D) The following questions give examples to help youto decide if you or the respondent, or both of you, are entitled tooccupy the dwelling-house:(a) Are you the sole legal owner of the dwelling-house?(b) Are you <strong>an</strong>d the respondent joint legal owners of thedwelling-house?(c) Is the respondent the sole legal owner of the dwelling-house?(d) Do you rent the dwelling-house as a sole ten<strong>an</strong>t?(e) Do you <strong>an</strong>d the respondent rent the dwelling-house as jointten<strong>an</strong>ts?(f)Does the respondent rent the dwelling-house as a sole ten<strong>an</strong>t?If you <strong>an</strong>swer ―• Yes to (a), (b), (d) or (e) you are likely to be entitled tooccupy the dwelling-house• Yes to (c) or (f) you may not be entitled (unless, <strong>for</strong> example,you are a spouse or civil partner <strong>an</strong>d have home rights – seenotes under ‘Home Rights’ below)• Yes to (b), (c), (e) or (f), the respondent is likely to beentitled to occupy the dwelling-house• Yes to (a) or (d) the respondent may not be entitled (unless,<strong>for</strong> example, he or she is a spouse or civil partner <strong>an</strong>d hashome rights).Box 1 For example, if you are sole owner, joint owner or if yourent the property. If you are not a spouse, <strong>for</strong>mer spouse, civilpartner, <strong>for</strong>mer civil partner, cohabit<strong>an</strong>t or <strong>for</strong>mer cohabit<strong>an</strong>t ofthe respondent, you will only be able to apply <strong>for</strong> <strong>an</strong> <strong>occupation</strong><strong>order</strong> if you fall within this category.If you <strong>an</strong>swer yes to this question, it will not be possible <strong>for</strong> amagistrates’ court to deal with the application, unless the courtdecides that it is unnecessary <strong>for</strong> it to decide this question in<strong>order</strong> to deal with the application or make the <strong>order</strong>. If the courtdecides that it c<strong>an</strong>not deal with the application, it will tr<strong>an</strong>sfer theapplication to a county court.Box 2 For example, if the respondent is or was married to you, orif you <strong>an</strong>d the respondent are or were civil partners, <strong>an</strong>d he or sheis sole owner or rents the property.Box 3 For example, if the respondent is or was cohabiting withyou <strong>an</strong>d is sole owner or rents the property.Home RightsWhere one spouse or civil partner “(A)” is entitled to occupythe dwelling-house by virtue of a beneficial estate or interest orcontract or by virtue of <strong>an</strong>y enactment giving him or her the rightto remain in <strong>occupation</strong>, <strong>an</strong>d the other spouse or civil partner “(B)”is not so entitled, then B (who is not entitled) has home rights.The rights are―(a) if B is in <strong>occupation</strong>, not to be evicted or excluded from thedwelling-house except with the leave of the court; <strong>an</strong>d(b) if B is not in <strong>occupation</strong>, the right, with the leave of thecourt, to enter into <strong>an</strong>d occupy the dwelling-house.2
Section 6 (continued)Note: Home Rights do not exist if the dwelling-house has neverbeen, <strong>an</strong>d was never intended to be, the matrimonial or civilpartnership home of the two spouses or civil partners. If themarriage or civil partnership has come to <strong>an</strong> end, home rightswill also have ceased, unless a court <strong>order</strong> has been made duringthe marriage or civil partnership <strong>for</strong> the rights to continue afterthe end of that relationship.Occupation OrdersThe possible <strong>order</strong>s are:If you have ticked box 1 above, <strong>an</strong> <strong>order</strong> under section 33 of theAct may:• en<strong>for</strong>ce the applic<strong>an</strong>t’s entitlement to remain in <strong>occupation</strong>as against the respondent• require the respondent to permit the applic<strong>an</strong>t to enter <strong>an</strong>dremain in the dwelling-house or part of it• regulate the <strong>occupation</strong> of the dwelling-house by either orboth parties• if the respondent is also entitled to occupy, the <strong>order</strong> mayprohibit, suspend or restrict the exercise by him, of that right• restrict or terminate <strong>an</strong>y home rights of the respondent• require the respondent to leave the dwelling-house or part of it• exclude the respondent from a defined area around thedwelling-house• declare that the applic<strong>an</strong>t is entitled to occupy the dwellinghouseor has home rights in it• provide that the home rights of the applic<strong>an</strong>t are not broughtto <strong>an</strong> end by the death of the other spouse or civil partner ortermination of the marriage or civil partnership.If you have ticked box 2 or box 3 above, <strong>an</strong> <strong>order</strong> under section35 or 36 of the Act may:• give the applic<strong>an</strong>t the right not to be evicted or excludedfrom the dwelling-house or <strong>an</strong>y part of it by the respondent<strong>for</strong> a specified period• prohibit the respondent from evicting or excluding theapplic<strong>an</strong>t during that period• give the applic<strong>an</strong>t the right to enter <strong>an</strong>d occupy the dwellinghouse<strong>for</strong> a specified period• require the respondent to permit the exercise of that right• regulate the <strong>occupation</strong> of the dwelling-house by either orboth of the parties• prohibit, suspend or restrict the exercise by the respondent ofhis right to occupy• require the respondent to leave the dwelling-house or part of it• exclude the respondent from a defined area around thedwelling-house.If you have ticked box 4 or box 5 above, <strong>an</strong> <strong>order</strong> under section37 or 38 of the Act may:• require the respondent to permit the applic<strong>an</strong>t to enter <strong>an</strong>dremain in the dwelling-house or part of it• regulate the <strong>occupation</strong> of the dwelling-house by either orboth of the parties• require the respondent to leave the dwelling-house or part of it• exclude the respondent from a defined area around thedwelling-house.You should provide <strong>an</strong>y evidence which you have on thefollowing matters in your evidence in support of thisapplication. If necessary, further statements may besubmitted after the application has been issued.If you have ticked box 1, box 4 or box 5 above, the court willneed <strong>an</strong>y available evidence of the following:• the housing needs <strong>an</strong>d resources of you, the respondent <strong>an</strong>d<strong>an</strong>y relev<strong>an</strong>t child• the fin<strong>an</strong>cial needs of you <strong>an</strong>d the respondent• the likely effect of <strong>an</strong>y <strong>order</strong>, or <strong>an</strong>y decision not to make<strong>an</strong> <strong>order</strong>, on the health, safety <strong>an</strong>d well-being of you, therespondent <strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>y relev<strong>an</strong>t child• the conduct of you <strong>an</strong>d the respondent in relation to eachother <strong>an</strong>d otherwise.If you have ticked box 2 above, the court will need <strong>an</strong>y availableevidence of:• the housing needs <strong>an</strong>d resources of you, the respondent <strong>an</strong>d<strong>an</strong>y relev<strong>an</strong>t child• the fin<strong>an</strong>cial resources of you <strong>an</strong>d the respondent• the likely effect of <strong>an</strong>y <strong>order</strong>, or of <strong>an</strong>y decision not to make<strong>an</strong> <strong>order</strong> on the health, safety <strong>an</strong>d well-being of you, therespondent <strong>an</strong>d <strong>an</strong>y relev<strong>an</strong>t child• the conduct of you <strong>an</strong>d the respondent in relation to eachother <strong>an</strong>d otherwise• the length of time that has elapsed since you <strong>an</strong>d therespondent ceased to live together• where you <strong>an</strong>d the respondent were married, the length oftime that has elapsed since the marriage was dissolved or<strong>an</strong>nulled• where you <strong>an</strong>d the respondent were civil partners, the lengthof time that has elapsed since the dissolution or <strong>an</strong>nulmentof the civil partnership3