PATTERSON MOORE BUTLER
ATTORNEYS & MEDIATION
attorney cumming ga

Paternity & Legitimation Lawyers

Paternity is established when a man is determined to be the biological father of his child. Under Georgia law, a newborn child’s mother possesses full parental rights while its unwed father does not. A father who is unmarried is legally financially responsible for his child which means he is obligated to pay child support, but he cannot enjoy rights such as visitation or child custody until he legitimizes his child. Our legitimation lawyers work with clients in Cumming and Dawsonville to establish a legal relationship between father and child.

How Does Legitimation Work?

Legitimation is necessary when a child is born, and the child’s father and mother are not married at the time. When a child has been legitimized, a father can be granted visitation and custody rights as well as the ability to pass on an inheritance to his child. The first step in this process is to petition the superior court in the county where the child’s mother lives. Additionally, child custody, parenting time or visitation rights with the child must also be specifically requested.