I am currently pregnant and I have a boyfriend who decided to up and abandon me during this pregnancy. I was wondering will he have rights to this child when it is born if he has never had anything to do with the pregnancy and birth? This concerns me because I am scared he may try to take the child and run. I was told if I keep him off everything he has no rights. Is this true?:confused:

He would have to fight for rights, which he might do if he really wanted to. It would involve establishing paternity, and becoming responsible for child support...

If he is the father, he has rights--to pay child support. He has to prove you are an unfit parent in order to legally claim the baby.

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Originally Posted by Mstitch626

I am currently pregnant and I have a boyfriend who decided to up and abandon me during this pregnancy. I was wondering will he have rights to this child when it is born if he has never had anything to do with the pregnancy and birth? This concerns me because I am scared he may try to take the child and run. I was told if I keep him off of everything he has no rights. Is this true?:confused:

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He has automatic rights as the father - and you have the right to receive child support.

When the baby is born, go to Court.

Oneguy had the best answer here. He does have rights because he is the biological father, but if you don't put him on the birth certificate, then he would need to fight for those rights. He would have to go to court to establish paternity and get some level of custody and visitation.

The problem with NOT listing him on the birth certificate is you may be breaking the law by fraudulently filling out a government document, but more importantly, you can't go after him for child support. Note: If you need to get public assistance to support your baby, then the state will require that you tell them who the father is and they will go after him for support.

My advice, is list him, then as soon as the baby is born, file for full custody and child support.