If your ex-husband has parental responsibility for your daughter, he has a legal right to be involved in all of the decisions about the important things in her life. Being christened is an important decision. How much you communicate with each other about these decisions really depends on your relationship. If you find it difficult, you may want to try family mediation services.

Sometimes, it is just not possible to agree on things and therefore, you need to take a view. In terms of the law, you don’t strictly need his permission. However, if he does not want your daughter to be christened and there is a disagreement, he can apply to the court for a ‘prohibited steps order‘.

This is an order that if granted, prevents you from going through with the christening until the court has decided that it is in her best interests. This application would be unusual. He would need a very good reason for rejecting your request. Possibly, his own religious views? Often parents have different religious beliefs and perhaps the fairest approach would be to teach the children about both faiths until they are old enough to make a choice for themselves.

As regards the Church, I’m not sure whether permission is required.

Best Regards, Harjit Sarang