When a child is born out of wedlock, a Father must petition the court for rights to all of the parental privileges automatically provided to the child's mother. Legitimation entitles a child born out of wedlock to inherit from his biological father as if he were born into lawful wedlock, and allows the biological father to be added to the child's birth certificate, and have the child's surname reflect that of the father. As a Special Proceeding, Legitimations can be daunting without legal guidance. A consultation is the best way to determine if you and your child are eligible for Legitimation.
