Parental authority is the power of parents to make all the necessary decisions concerning the children’s well being. It also includes all their duties towards the offspring. Education, housing, medical care, daily care, physical and psychological care and the child’s protection are all items included under parental authority.
Generally, parental authority is jointly exercised by both parents, regardless which one has custody of the children. However, this rule does not apply when a parent has lost parental authority.
Loss of parental authority can be obtained by a family lawyer by means of a request submitted to the court. Allegated reasons can vary: prolonged absence of a parent from the life of a child, endangering a child, sexual abuse and others. The court may also be appealed to in order to settle a significant decision such as the choice of schools, of care provided, of religious practice, without otherwise affecting the parent’s parental authority.