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Paternity meaning

Published by a LexisNexis Family expert
What does Paternity mean?
Paternity describes who is legally recognised as a child’s father in practice, determining rights and obligations in family law, child maintenance, nationality, succession and immigration. It is established by statutory presumptions, birth registration, rules on assisted reproduction, adoption, or by court order. Across the UK and Ireland, a husband is generally presumed to be the father of his wife’s child at birth; the presumption is rebuttable by evidence or court declaration. Naming a man on the birth register evidences paternity; in England & Wales and Northern Ireland this generally gives an unmarried father parental responsibility, and in Scotland confers PRRs, whereas in Ireland it does not confer guardianship (which must be acquired by qualifying cohabitation or court order). Assisted reproduction and surrogacy rules may designate the legal father irrespective of genetics (UK: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008; Ireland: Children and Family Relationships Act 2015). Disputed paternity can be resolved by DNA testing and a declaration/declarator of parentage (England & Wales: Family Law Act 1986; Scotland: Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986; Ireland: Status of Children Act 1987; Northern Ireland has similar provisions). Paternity underpins applications about parental responsibility/PRRs, guardianship, contact and residence, child maintenance, passport and nationality claims, and inheritance.
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CHECKLISTS
Workplace Pensions and Statutory Family Leave: Accrual, Contributions and Employer/Trustee Duties (Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Parental, Shared Parental, Bereavement, Carer’s) - Checklist

Legislation safeguards the pension entitlements of members of occupational pension schemes and other employment‑related benefit arrangements, including workplace personal pension schemes that receive employer contributions, while they are away from work on statutory family leave. Statutory family leave encompasses: maternity leave paternity leave adoption leave parental leave shared parental leave parental bereavement leave carer’s leave Maternity leave Occupational pension schemes are taken to include a maternity equality rule requiring periods when a member is on maternity leave to be treated in the same manner as periods when they are not on maternity leave. This maternity equality rule applies to both paid and unpaid ordinary maternity leave (OML), as well as to paid additional maternity leave (AML). As a result, under this rule, time spent on OML and paid AML in a defined benefit (DB) scheme is recognised as pensionable service...

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NEWS
Employment law weekly: ERA 2025 changes and enforcement, pensions NIC cap, key Equality Act and redundancy rulings, ET time limits, and diary dates — 8 January 2026

In this issue: Employment Rights Act 2025 Pensions Protected characteristics Prohibited conduct Maternity, parents and carers Redundancy Employment Tribunals Dates for your diary Trackers Employment resources on Lexis+® LexTalk®Employment: a Lexis®Nexis community Daily and weekly news alerts Employment Law—looking back at 2025 and ahead to 2026 The Lexis+® Employment team have assembled a round-up of the standout employment law developments across 2025, alongside a preview of priorities for 2026, including anticipated movement on the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025), the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, plus forthcoming legislation and notable cases. It also flags themes to watch and highlights items expected to shape practice in the year ahead. See News Analysis: Employment Law—looking back at 2025 and ahead to 2026. Employment Rights Act 2025—what is changing, and when? The Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) secured Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 and was released—initially as a pdf only—on...

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NEWS
UK employment law weekly (8 August 2024): MSLs repeal plan, TUPE and unfair dismissal EAT rulings, SRA NDA update, ET rules consultation, immigration changes, tips allocation code

In this issue: Equality, diversity and inclusion Maternity, parents and carers Trade unions and industrial action TUPE Bribery, modern slavery, tax evasion and fraud Unfair dismissal Settlement Employment Tribunals Immigration Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers New Q&As Equality, diversity and inclusion Temp government worker loses discrimination claim over gender critical views Law360 reports that, in McBride v The Scottish Ministers (ETS/4102841/2023), a temporary worker failed in his case alleging the Scottish Government discriminated against him for holding the belief that sex is immutable, after the tribunal decided he had intentionally provoked colleagues likely to disagree. See Law360: Temp government worker loses discrimination claim over gender critical views. EHRC reports MoD’s apology to former soldier for subjection to racist and sexist abuse The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) confirmed that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued an apology...

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NEWS
UK employment law weekly update: key cases, legislation (paternity leave, tax), discrimination and equal pay, tribunals reform, ECCTA and failure to prevent fraud, immigration policy—6 June 2024

In this issue: Horizon scanning Employment contract Tax Prohibited conduct protection at work Prohibited conduct (discrimination etc) Diversity and gender pay gap Maternity, parents and carers Individual rights arising from trade union membership Bribery, modern slavery, tax evasion and fraud Unfair dismissal Settlement Employment tribunals Employment Appeal Tribunal Immigration LexTalk®Employment: a Lexis®Nexis community Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers Horizon scanning The PM’s Office confirms the State Opening of Parliament, together with the King’s Speech, will occur on 17 July 2024. The new Parliament is summoned for 9 July 2024 to choose the Speaker and administer oaths to members. See: LNB News 30/05/2024 60. Employment contract Heathrow Express has not succeeded in its appeal concerning lifelong rail perks. In Adekoya v Heathrow Express Operating Co Ltd [2024] EAT 72, the EAT found the company must again defend breach of contract...

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PRACTICE NOTES
A UK practitioner’s guide to Republic of Ireland employment law: differences from Great Britain, and practical guidance on WRC procedures, leave, redundancy, TUPE and immigration

Employment laws in the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland have much in common, as all operate within common law systems and many contemporary employment statutes flow from European Directives. Even so, divergences do exist and are likely to widen. This Practice Note outlines several distinctions between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Care is advised when handling matters in Northern Ireland, where the framework is becoming increasingly distinct from Great Britain. For details on the differences between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, see Practice Note: Northern Ireland employment law. Main areas of difference employment status categories leave entitlements qualifying period and remedies under unfair dismissals legislation redundancy entitlements protected conversations and settlement agreements employment tribunal procedures transfers of undertakings (TUPE) immigration Categories of employment status In the Republic of Ireland, individuals engaged in work are typically classified as either ‘employees’ or ‘independent contractors’. There is no...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Film and Television: Legal, Regulatory and Industry Glossary (M–P)

For more common film and TV terms, see: Film and TV glossary A–B, Film and TV glossary C–D, Film and TV glossary E–H, Film and TV glossary I–L, Film and TV glossary R–S, Film and TV glossary T–W. Meme An image, video, snippet of text, or similar item that satirises or amuses, typically spreading rapidly online, with users often adapting or varying it as they share it on. Mime Within copyright law, mime is treated as a form of dramatic work. Moral rights Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988), authors are granted personal rights (moral rights) that sit alongside, but separate from, their economic rights. Whereas copyright concerns financial interests, moral rights protect the author’s public reputation and the integrity of the work linked to them. the right to be named as author or director (the right of paternity) the right to object to derogatory treatment of a work (the right of integrity) the right...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme—original March–June 2020 version: eligibility, employee categories, calculations, TUPE, furlough agreements, claims and Treasury Directions [Archived]

ARCHIVED This archived Practice Note is not being maintained and is supplied for background purposes only. It covers the original Coronavirus (COVID-19) Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), first unveiled by the government on 20 March 2020, which applied from 1 March to 30 June 2020. For information on: the extended CJRS operating between 1 May and 30 September 2021, see Practice Note: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (extended version 1 May to 30 September 2021) [Archived] the extended CJRS in effect from 1 November 2020 to 30 April 2021, see Practice Note: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (extended version 1 November 2020 to 30 April 2021) [Archived] the revised CJRS running from 1 July to 31 October 2020, see Practice Note: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (extended version 1 July to 31 October 2020) [Archived] The CJRS was a temporary initiative, originally intended to run for three months from 1 March 2020. On 17 April 2020, HM Treasury announced an extension to 30 June,...

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PRECEDENTS
Template Redundancy Selection Matrix: Scoring Criteria, Absence/Disciplinary Rules and Equality Act 2010 Adjustments (England, Wales and Scotland)

Employee name: Employment commencement date and present length of service [ Insert date ] [ Insert length of service ] Job role: Division/Department Assessed by: Assessment date: Role: Approved by: Date: Role: Guidance: When using the criteria (other than disciplinary history), reasonable adjustments might be required for workers with a disability (as set out in the Equality Act 2010, s 6) where not doing so would put them at a significant disadvantage compared with non-disabled colleagues. This exception does not extend to disciplinary records. Service refers to continuous employment with the company and any linked company. Service includes transferred service within associated companies. If the worker has under 12 months’ service, convert the absence record to an annualised figure. Annualisation ensures a balanced and like-for-like assessment. Disregard the following absences: These must be excluded from absence calculations. absences linked to a disability (as defined by Equality Act 2010, s 6); maternity...

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PRECEDENTS
Employer Paternity Leave Policy (Short Form): Eligibility, Notice and Statutory/Company Pay for Birth and Adoption

1 Introduction 1.1 This policy explains when our staff may qualify for paternity leave and pay, and describes how leave can be taken and the steps to arrange it. 1.2 This policy is issued for guidance only and does not form any part of your employment contract, and we may revise it at any time. It summarises the statutory rights available to employees and others, but is intended as an overview and not a full statement of your rights. If you have any questions about what you are entitled to, please contact [ the HR department ]. 1.3 This policy can apply to either a man or a woman. References to a child also include children where a multiple birth has occurred (eg, twins), or where more than one child is placed as part of the same adoption arrangement or process...

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PRECEDENTS
Law firm diversity and inclusion self-assessment spreadsheet: benchmark gender balance and maternity, paternity and adoption leave, with year-on-year tracking

Diversity and inclusion (D&I)—law firm self-assessment against gender balance and maternity, paternity or adoption leave measures This Precedent enables a firm to benchmark its figures across a number of different possible D&I indicators and to track movement over a particular period of time, eg to provide a year on year comparison of results. Click to obtain an Excel version of this Precedent. The purpose is to help you form a clear picture of gender balance together with maternity, paternity and adoption leave metrics. You will find a separate tab for each of these within the spreadsheet. These specific groups have been selected because employee data in these areas should be readily available to most firms; nevertheless, the Precedent can be expanded to incorporate additional D&I indicators, eg relating to ethnicity, religion or sexuality...

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