What Are My Rights if I Never Married My Child's Mother?
Hoover Kacyon
October 26, 2023
When you have a child out of wedlock, you may be curious about your rights. As an unmarried
father, those rights, responsibilities, and obligations may make you nervous or anxious. While
understandable, let’s prepare you for what to expect.
Automatic Rights for Mothers
The unwed mother automatically has sole physical and legal custody of the child. Until the father legally establishes paternity over that child, he has zero rights or responsibilities. Even without legal rights and responsibilities, the mother is still encouraged to allow the father to visit the child, and the father should try to provide some financial support. These actions will only help both parties in any family law cases in the future.
Establish Paternity
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, “For unmarried parents in Ohio, paternity can be established one of three ways, depending on your situation:
- Both parties complete and sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit. This form is voluntary, there is no cost to complete, and is the quickest way to establish paternity and legally recognized fatherhood.
- Genetic testing followed by an administrative order establishing paternity.
- A court order of paternity issued through Juvenile or Domestic Relations Court.”
Paternity is required for a court to order child support, child custody, or visitation of the child.
Once you determine the child’s paternity, the father will be able to:
- Request visitation or custody to legally see the child
- Pay child support until the child turns 18 or 19 through high school
- Cover half of the child’s health care costs
- Contribute to half of the childcare costs should the mother attend school or go to work
Paternity Benefits
The child in question benefits from establishing paternity in many ways. Emotionally, it is better for the child to know who their father is, and they can:
- gain financial support from both parents
- access both parents’ health records and medical history
- inherit from both parents
- receive Social Security or Veteran’s benefits if applicable
Hoover Kacyon, LLC, is a trusted partner in child and paternity legal matters, delivering results through our unwavering dedication, vast experience, and proven track record in litigation and appeals.
The Akron, Fairlawn, and Cuyahoga Falls Hoover Kaycon, LLC Attorneys at Law are here to assist you with the sensitive nature of paternity cases.
If you need assistance, know that we deliver the highest quality legal representation from a team of professionals while also providing excellent customer service. Call us at 330-922-4491 or contact us online to make an appointment.
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