A Bill to require courts, local authorities and other bodies, when determining or enforcing issues of residence and contact, to operate under the presumption that the rights of a child include the right to grow up knowing and having access to and contact with both of the parents involved in the residence or contact case concerned, unless exceptional circumstances are demonstrated that such contact is not in the best interests of the child; to create an offence if a relevant body or person does not operate under or respect such a presumption; and for connected purposes
House of Commons
1 May 2012
The bill creates a presumption that children have the right to know and have contact with both parents in residence or contact cases. It requires courts, local authorities and other bodies to apply this presumption unless there are exceptional circumstances showing it would not be in the child’s best interests, and it makes it an offence to ignore the presumption.
The bill is currently at the Second Reading in the House of Commons; if it progresses, it would move to Committee stage for detailed consideration and further stages.
Generated 21 February 2026
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
