Many children have the privilege of growing up with both of their parents. Even if a child’s parents are divorced, having two involved parents can be very beneficial for the child’s emotional well-being. Similarly, in many families, parents who are not married to each other understand the benefits of allowing their child to have a meaningful connection with each parent.
While married couples are automatically recognized as a baby’s parents at birth, an unmarried father’s relationship with his child needs to be legally established so that his paternity is officially recognized. Otherwise, he has no legal parental rights or responsibilities to the child. When the mother wants the father to establish his paternity, but he is unwilling to acknowledge his role in the child’s life, she can pursue legal action. If you are in this situation, contact a knowledgeable Hillside, IL family law attorney to learn more about your options.