I often get this question by fathers, especially those whose names are on the birth certificates of the children. "Do I really need to establish paternity?" The bottom line is - yes, you do. If you and the mother were not married, establishing paternity is crucial to you obtaining any rights as a father. There are actually many reasons to establish paternity that will benefit your child in the long run.
You need to understand that the only thing your name on the birth certificates establishes for you is the right to pay child support. Now, depending on your situation, you may think this isn't fair at all, but that is simply the way it is and it's not going to change. Whether or not you agreed to the pregnancy, by law both parents are responsible to take care of the child and remember--the child didn't ask for any of this.
Establishing paternity benefits the child in many ways. First off, everyone has a right to know where they come from and who their parents are. There are also things such as Social Security and inheritance that may affect them later in life and that they may benefit from as your child. And it's not just goods that can be inherited - health issues can be, too, and they have a right to know these things as well.
Establishing your paternity is going to be extremely important to you if you are planning on having any type of active role in your child's life. As I have said before, the only thing the State cares about is your money. Visitation, your relationship with the child - those mean nothing to them. And if a custody or parent's rights battle is taking place, the court is almost always going to side with the mother. As an unwed dad, you have to establish whether or not you are indeed the father.
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