Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts
fathers' rights
I wanted to know: What kind of rights a father has if he does not sign the birth certificate?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: fathers' rights?
Legally speaking, probably none, except those allowed by the mother. There has to be some legal connection -- to this end, this is achieved by a paternity action.
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Re: fathers' rights
The father has no rights until either he signs a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity (at city hall where the child was born) or by filing a court action seeking paternity or custody/support visitation, which will then adjudicate him the father. Once paternity is established whether contested your not he would have the same rights as any father.
If the parties agree prior to any of the above being done then he would have the rights agreed upon by the parties.
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