Petition · past parliament

Fathers to have 50/50 rights and stricter penalties for breach of court order

Closed 82 signatures

What the petition asks

I want fathers to have equal rights in a family court and not just automatically given to the mother. Also a stronger penalty for breach of court order. With the person who is breachig the court order liable to pay costs towards a new court order.
Time and time again fathers are being stopped from seeing their children. Even with a visitation order, the ex partner can stop them and have to be taken back to court at the expense of the father again.

It's a lengthy and costly process and the mother has automatic residency rights over the child. The current procedures don't do enough to stop a mother from blocking contact with their children.

If the mother blocks contact without a valid excuse, she should be made to pay future court fees

Timeline

20 Oct 2016 Petition opened for signatures
20 Apr 2017 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 82
Status Closed
Opened 20 Oct 2016
Closed 20 Apr 2017

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.