| A father's rights in California may depend on whether | | | | support, they will have to file an Order to Show |
| or not his child was born out of wedlock. If the child | | | | Cause for these rights and will have to file a Petition |
| was born in wedlock, the father may have a much | | | | to Establish Parentage. |
| simpler path ahead of him in terms of his right to | | | | In many cases, the court will grant the father |
| custody, visitation or child support. If the child was | | | | visitation rights unless it is proven that it is in the |
| born out of wedlock, the father may face a much | | | | child's best interest that the father is denied such |
| more difficult path. | | | | rights. The reasoning is complicated and delicate as |
| The mother of a child born out of wedlock may | | | | another parenal figure who appears in and out of the |
| deny the father any rights to visitation and she has | | | | child life could bring on strong dependency issues later |
| the right to assume full custody of the child unless | | | | on in life. |
| the Court says otherwise. If the mother would like to | | | | Determining a father's rights in the state of California |
| collect child support, she may file with the court to | | | | may be difficult and confusing for some people. |
| determine the father of the child and must also file | | | | Consulting with a knowledgeable attorney who |
| an Order to Show Cause for child support. | | | | specializes in the area of family law may help to shed |
| Either party may request a DNA test be conducted | | | | some light on the process and the father's options. |
| to determine the father of the child. If a father | | | | The objective is to make all parties come to a level |
| wants to obtain visitation rights, custody or child | | | | of acceptance that is fair. |