Legal Question in Family Law in California

Once you establish paternity, you have the same legal rights - and responsibilities - as a married father.

Actually not the same rights as a married father. The same rights as a divorced father. The key point, however, is that you first have to have legal fatherhood. Once you do, you have the same rights as a divorcing or divorced father to go to court and ask for custody orders.

You would have the same rights as a divorcing father, as pointed out by Mr. McCormick. But of course, as he pointed out, you would have to establish paternity.