What is a legal father?
A legal father is the man recognized by the state as the child’s father. Sometimes legal recognition of the father is called paternity.
Info for and about fathers
What is a presumed father?
A presumed father is someone that the courts treat as the legal father.
Do I have to give the baby’s father’s name on the adoption paperwork?
Yes, in most cases.
What if the presumed father does not agree to adoption?
If you are in the middle of an adoption, the presumed father can ask the court to stop the adoption if he wants custody. If this happens, you can still ask for custody. You may be able to raise the child yourself, or to share custody with the father.
What if the other parent doesn’t want to or cannot pay child support?
You can ask the court to order the other parent to pay child support.
What is a presumed father for purposes of an adoption?
A presumed father has the same rights as the mother.
What is a natural father for purposes of an adoption?
A natural father (also called an alleged father) does not have as many rights as a presumed father.