Other Family Issues

questions & answers

Question: i am 15 years old an i got a 2 month old baby and the father is not on the birth certificate an the baby does not have his last name an i dont want him to have any rights because he is not responsible an i cant trust him can he get rights??

Answer:

The parental rights of the natural father are not affected simply because the child does not have his last name or if his name does not appear on the child’s birth certificate. If paternity is established, the natural father has the right to pursue a custody agreement and/or visitation with the child. For information regarding establishing paternity of a child, please refer to Title 25 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. For information concerning termination of parental rights please refer to A.R.S. § 8-539. You can also find additional information on this website about Child Custody, Visitation, Child Support, and Parental Rights and Obligations.

Cases involving parental rights and child custody are often complicated and difficult. Thus, you may want to consult an attorney for detailed legal advice. There are many agencies that can help you if need assistance getting an attorney due to financial concerns.