The biological father does not have any legal rights to the child until paternity is established.

To be recognized as the child’s legal father, there are steps that you must take as the biological father to become the legal father.

As the legal father of your child, you are not automatically required to pay child support, have custody or even visitation. These are separate issues from establishing paternity and require separate court determinations.

1. Even if you plan to marry or if you live together, establishing legal fatherhood guarantees the child’s rights. Only when the father’s name is added to the child’s birth certificate can the child be sure of who his or her legal parents are.