Legal Term of the Week – Parens Patriae

Parens patriae is a Latin expression that means “parent of the nation.” It refers to the inherent authority of the state – exercised through the courts – to step in and protect a child where the child’s welfare is at risk.

In custody matters, this principle explains why the court is not merely resolving a dispute between two parents.

The court is acting as the ultimate guardian of the child’s welfare, and that duty overrides the personal claims, agreements or conduct of the parents.

This is the legal foundation of the “best interest of the child” rule.

Child Custody and Unmarried Parents: What the Law in Nigeria Actually Says

The recent conversations in the media about a celebrity custody dispute has brought a very real legal issue to the surface. It is something thousands of Nigerians deal with without cameras, headlines or public statements.

If a child is born when the parents are not married, who has the legal right to the child?

The Most Important Rule: The Child Comes First

The starting point is the Child’s Rights Act 2003, the most important legislation on child custody in Nigeria.

Section 1 of that Act provides that in every action concerning a child, the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration.

That single sentence is asking a practical question: what arrangement will produce the most stable, secure and healthy life for this child?

Although the Child’s Rights Act is a federal law, child custody is technically governed at the state level. So each state must pass its own version of the Child’s Rights Law for the provisions to apply fully within that state.

Today, all 36 states have enacted their own Child’s Rights Law (with varying levels of amendments), which means the “best interest of the child” principle is recognised across Nigeria.

This principle has also been interpreted by the Supreme Court in Williams v Williams, where the court explained that the welfare of the child includes the child’s emotional well-being, education, physical care, moral upbringing and overall development. The focus is not on the rights of the parents as individuals but on the total life of the child.

Child Custody outside of wedlock
Under common law legal principles, a child born outside marriage is automatically in the custody of the mother at birth. However, the Child’s Rights Act has moved the law forward significantly.

Sections 68 and 69 make it clear that either parent can apply to court for custody, access or parental responsibility. The court is empowered to grant custody to the father, the mother, both parents jointly, or even another suitable person if that would better serve the child’s welfare.

The parent who wants custody must file an action in the appropriate court, usually the Family Court Division of the State High Court of the state where the child resides. In that action, the parent can ask for custody, access, maintenance or all three.

The court will then require proof of the relationship with the child. This may come in the form of a birth certificate, evidence that the parent has been involved in the child’s life, school records, medical records or witnesses who can confirm the role the parent has played.

The most important part of the case is the ability to show that the proposed arrangement will benefit the child. The court will look at the child’s current living situation, the stability of each parent’s home, the time each parent has spent caring for the child, the child’s schooling and daily routine, and the mental, emotional and moral fitness of each parent.

The court can also make temporary decisions about where the child should stay while the case is ongoing.
At the end of the process, the court may grant sole custody, joint custody, or custody to one parent with defined access rights for the other.

The Direction Nigerian Law Has Taken

Modern Nigerian law no longer focuses on whether a child was born inside or outside marriage. The Child’s Rights Act makes it clear that every child has equal rights and deserves equal protection.

The question the court asks is always the same: which arrangement will give this child the most stable, secure and healthy life?

Custody is not a tool for settling relationship disputes. It is a structured legal process designed to protect a child’s future. There is a clear path. There is a clear standard. And there is a system for enforcing it.

You do not need to rely on guesswork, family pressure or public opinion. The law already provides the framework.

Courtesy: Lawpadi