Duration
Parental responsibilities continue until children reach majority (18 years) or emancipation. If professional training remains incomplete, support may extend until completion — provided it remains reasonable to expect parental contribution.
Core content
Parents must ensure:
- Safety and health protection;
- Education direction and guidance;
- Representation in legal matters;
- Asset administration (property management).
Exercise of responsibilities:
Situation
|
Who exercises
|
Key rules
|
| Marriage/de facto union | Both parents jointly | Court conciliation resolves disagreements |
| Divorce/separation | Joint decisions on major issues | One parent acts alone only in manifest urgency (must notify other immediately) |
| Daily routine | Parent with habitual residence | Follows guidelines from primary residence parent |
| Impediment/death | Surviving parent | Court assigns to family member if both unavailable |
Special cases
When both parents are judicially impeded, courts may assign responsibilities to a spouse/partner or close family member.