Can a mother refuse to acknowledge any father for her child?

Full question:

Can a mother refuse to acknowledge any father for her child, allowing no one any paternal rights and obligating no one to supply financial support, if no male attempts to claim paternity?

  • Category: Divorce
  • Subcategory: Child Support
  • Date:
  • State: Ohio

Answer:

If both parents do not complete and sign the Affidavit to establish paternity at the hospital, the father's name won't appear on the birth certificate, and the child will have no legal father at that time. Since both biological parents must sign the Affidavit, if one parent chooses not to, paternity cannot be established this way. However, parents can still establish paternity later if they choose.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

A mother can restrict a father's access to their child if there is no established legal custody agreement. However, if the father claims paternity and seeks visitation rights, the court may intervene. It's important to consider the child's best interests when making such decisions.