Acknowledged Father


Definition of Acknowledged Father

An acknowledged father is a man who legally admits to being the biological father of a child. This typically happens when a child is born out of wedlock. Once a man becomes an acknowledged father, he is responsible for paying child support. The acknowledged father also receives full parental rights.



Acknowledged Father Explained

A man can become an acknowledged father in several different ways. First, he can sign an acknowledgement of paternity. Second, if there is no dispute between the man and the child's mother, then they can both simply agree that he is the father. If there is a disagreement as to whether or not a man is the father of a child, then a paternity test can be given. Paternity tests involve testing the DNA of both the father and the child to determine if the child is the offspring of the father.