What obligation does a biological father have if he is on the birth certificate?

03/16/2007 - Category:Paternity - Parental Rights - State: PA #1628

Full Question:

If a mother of the child was with someone else (i.e., not the natural father of the child) during the months of pregnancy and 11 months after the child was born, and the child’s father did not have anything to do with the child during that time, will the father have to step in at this time? The child carries the natural father’s last name and also the natural father’s name is on the child’s birth certificate as the father.

Answer:

If a man’s name is on the birth certificate and was not the mother’s husband, then he must have signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity under the circumstances you set forth. In such a situation the natural father has all the rights and duties as to the child which he would have had if he had been married to the mother at the time of the birth of the child, and the child shall have all the rights and duties as to the father which the child would have had if the father had been married to the mother at the time of birth.

In Pennsylvania, child support is payable until a child reaches eighteen years old or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared that parents cannot be forced by a court to pay for college expenses of a child unless the parent has signed a written agreement providing for college support. However, a duty of support may continue beyond the age of eighteen, if a child is unable to support himself or herself because of a physical or mental disability. The amount of child support that is payable in a case is based upon the monthly after tax incomes or earning capacities of the child's parents.

Please see the information at the following links: Please see the forms at the following links:

03/16/2007 - Category: Parental Rights - State: PA #1628

See more Questions in the Parental Rights Category