Restrict child benefit to co-habiting couples only

[Ms Macbeth]

but in the case of unmarried people then they HAVE TO be there, the issue we are talking about it women sleeping with anyone then not declaring the father, as some people keep going on about, so they have to have the man thereto register him as the father, if he refuses then shes buggered

 

and yes i agree they should be there as yes they could add anyone but what if the married women had an affair on added her hubby as the father knowing hes not? it should be the same for everyone

 

If a couple are married and co-habiting when a child is born then it would be natural to assume they are both the parents - hence either of the married parents being able to register the birth and both being expected to be financially and otherwise responsible for children recorded as of the marriage.

 

In the case of single parents, then perhaps its time that paternity is recorded on birth certificates. If the suggested father won't accept responsibility, then there should be a process where he has to disprove paternity, ie dna testing. Once parentage is proved, then financial support and responsibility for a child should be joint.

 

There would be a minority of cases where paternity wouldn't be registered, such as rape, or after fertility treatment/sperm donation. But a note on the birth certificate such as 'father not recorded' could be sufficient in those cases. More information could be available for those children in adulthood, similar to what adoptees can find now.

[lubylou12]

If a couple are married and co-habiting when a child is born then it would be natural to assume they are both the parents - hence either of the married parents being able to register the birth and both being expected to be financially and otherwise responsible for children recorded as of the marriage.

 

In the case of single parents, then perhaps its time that paternity is recorded on birth certificates. If the suggested father won't accept responsibility, then there should be a process where he has to disprove paternity, ie dna testing. Once parentage is proved, then financial support and responsibility for a child should be joint.

 

There would be a minority of cases where paternity wouldn't be registered, such as rape, or after fertility treatment/sperm donation. But a note on the birth certificate such as 'father not recorded' could be sufficient in those cases. More information could be available for those children in adulthood, similar to what adoptees can find now.

 

yeah agree to most of that, and yes it is ormal to assume the hubby is the father, but it should still be the same for everyone...........my 3 childrens father is on all thier birth certificates and HAD to attend, for him to be so.

[James68]

Child benefit should be means tested but I suppose that might cost more money in the long run.