Legal Question in Family Law in Georgia

Legitimize a child

Lived with 2 childerns mother until a few days ago wen a surprised me by having me evicted and served family violence papers which are untrue and can be verified by my 2 childern. She is seeking full custody of the 13 & 15 year old. One of the sub sections say '' the parties are not married and the respondent has not legitimated''. The childern have my last name and and no questions about me being the father. The childern want to live with me and the court date is about 3 weeks from now. I am disabled and drawing SSI disability and can not afford a high priced attorney. How can I legitimize the 2 childern?


Asked on 8/11/08, 4:19 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Harold Holcombe Harold D. Holcombe, P.C.

Re: Legitimize a child

You have to file a petition for legitimation in the county where the children live. The papers are correct. If you have not legitimated the children you do not have any access rights to the children. You do have a duty to pay child support until it is proven that they are not your children. Legitimation is a fairly simple legal case as legal cases go. You should be able to do this relatively inexpensively. Custody is another issue but since the children are older they will have input as to which parent they want to live with.

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Answered on 8/12/08, 7:23 am


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