If I’m not my child’s biological father but am listed on her birth certificate, what are my rights?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I’m not my child’s biological father but am listed on her birth certificate, what are my rights?
I am not the biological father of the oldest but I have been taking care of her since she was a month old and I am the only dad she knows. I am not sure who her biological father is. We had her birth certificate amended to have me as the father when she was a month old. I am the only one that can take care of her but I know my wife will try to turn her life upside down out of spite. My wife is in and out of the hospital (where she is currently) and jail. Do I have the same rights to her as my other children?
Asked on October 30, 2012 under Family Law, Georgia
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You need to sit down with a lawyer and go through the process of reviewing your true rights. A component is being listed on the birth certificate. That is good. A second componenent is whether a legal adoption will be necessary or if in the eyes of your state's court more is not necessary. You should consider reviewing this with a family lawyer, seeing if you can petition for a restraining order against the mother for your child's benefit and petition for full custody.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.