What legal rights does a father have for a child born out of wedlock?

In Washington, a father who is not married to the mother of his child may still have legal parental rights. Paternity laws in Washington guarantee certain rights to unmarried fathers. First, paternity laws in Washington ensure that an unmarried father can establish paternity, or legal fatherhood, of a child. This action is important as it gives the father legal rights to the child. Once paternity is established, an unmarried father may seek custody or visitation rights to the child. This also grants him the right to be consulted on important decisions related to the child, such as decisions about education, health care, and other matters. In addition, paternity laws in Washington give an unmarried father the right to seek child support. Even though the father and mother are not married, the father can still seek financial support from the mother to help provide for their child. Finally, an unmarried father can potentially inherit property or receive death benefits from the mother’s estate if the mother passes away. This right is usually established through paternity laws in Washington. Therefore, paternity laws in Washington provide unmarried fathers with many of the same legal rights as married fathers. The legal paternity of a father is always figured out on a case-by-case basis, so it is important to turn to a legal professional to ensure that rights are protected.

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What legal rights does a father have for a child born out of wedlock?

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