Having a child is one of the biggest milestones in a person’s life. Being able to watch the child grow up and make something of himself or herself is beyond exciting. However, what if the parents were not married when they had the child? If the parents are still not together at the time of childbirth, parenthood may be much more difficult than if the parents were married. Unwed fathers need to understand their paternity rights, so that they can help make their child’s life a positive one.
What Do Unwed Fathers Need to Know?
It is very important that unwed fathers understand the rights that they have. The unwed father may refuse to sign the child’s birth certificate, but his rights are not automatically guaranteed. The court has the rights to confirm legal paternity. If there is no court order in place, then the father does not have any legal rights to the child, but he may still be required to pay child support.
If the mother of the child decides to pursue any type of government assistance, a child support action will be taken against the unwed father, regardless of whether the mother wants to pursue the action. This is because the application for government assistance will require the mother to disclose the father’s identity, as the application may be denied if she does not disclose such information.
Contrary to popular belief, it is possible for unwed fathers to receive credit for child support as long as financial support of the child is proven by documents such as receipts and money orders. With the right information, the court will likely accept the support and give the credit to the father.
Call a Santa Clara County Paternity Rights Lawyer
Being an unwed father can be very difficult, but it does not have to be impossible. Being there for your child and supporting him or her throughout life is one of the most rewarding feelings yet. Not only will you likely have a special bond with your child when you are declared the legal father, but you may also receive credit, based on your support. If you are an unwed father and need to further understand your rights, you can count on Dominion Law Group, LLP for effective legal advice. For a free initial consultation, please call a San Jose paternity rights attorney at 408-288-5592 to get the help you deserve.
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