Advice concerning unwed fathers rights

[paintlover70]

My son and his ex-girlfriend are expecting a child in the next few months. I have found some information online that states unwed fathers have no rights at all. I have had one friend tell me to make sure that my son gets his name on the birth certificate (as soon as the baby is born) so that he won't have to do any paternity testing later.
He wants to share custody of the baby, so what I am looking for is what steps does he need to take to have a legal custody agreement?
Does he have to wait until after the baby is born to start any legal proceedings?
Are there any sort of "self-help" books that have guidelines and such to follow?

Any information and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[CdwJava]

Here is a link with more information:

http://www.childsup.ca.gov/Resources/EstablishPaternity.aspx

Particularly note the information on a Declaration of Paternity. Hopefully the girl is 18 or older, and hopefully she shall sign the document.

 

[paintlover70]

Thankfully both are of age. It is just an unfortunate situation all around and he wants to make sure that he has as much equal rights to care for his child as the mom does. Trying to do as much research as possible before the baby arrives.
Thanks for the link

 

[Proserpina]

Actually, I'd encourage your son to get that DNA paternity test before signing a darned thing.

Because if it turns out a couple of years down the line that he's not actually Dad, it will be a mess.

 

[army judge]

Proserpina offers wise counsel, OP.

Have you ever watched an episode of The Maury Show?

DNA testing is the only way for him, her, you, and the child to know IF he's the "baby daddy"!!!

In fact, only an idiot would sign a birth certificate without having a scientific determination of paternity !!!

Madam, you don't impress me as an idiot.

So, do all the research you desire, but advise Junior to seek a DNA test after the baby is born. If that proves him to be the "baby daddy", then sign the birth certificate and formally acknowledge paternity.

In the meantime, I suggest you abandon self help legal remedies for this matter and hire him an attorney to pursue support and custody.

Finally, an unwed father has few paternal rights prior to establishing them through the court system. Mind you, I said court system, not the child support system! There is a huge difference.

 

[Proserpina]

Absolutely!

Mom and son might also want to spend time perusing legal forums; there is an astonishing number of cases where legal Daddy - who didn't have testing but signed the forms anyway - finds out years later that he's not biological Daddy.

And there's absolutely nothing he can do to change that.