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This information applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland
If you enter into a civil partnership, and if your girlfriend agrees, you can make a formal parental responsibility agreement. This means you'd share with your partner in the responsibility for your children's health, education and welfare. If the children's father also has parental responsibility, he'll have to agree to you having parental responsibility. In some cases, you could go apply to court for parental responsibility. The court would then decide whether giving you parental responsibility would be in the interest of the children.
If you do get a parental responsibility order, it means you'll have a duty to provide financially for the children. It would also give you the right to keep up direct and regular contact with the child if you and your girlfriend separate.
For more information about civil partnerships, in England and Wales see Registering a civil partnership.
For more information on parental responsibility and contact with children, see Children at the end of a civil partnership in Ending a civil partnership.
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