Effective July 1, 2016, fathers of children born out-of-wedlock can no longer sign voluntary administrative legitimation acknowledgments, i.e., a child may only be legitimated by a court order.  This new law, put into effect by Senate Bill 64, only applies to legitimations after July 1, 2016, and does not in any way vacate administrative legitimations that took place on or prior to June 30, 2016.

Prior to July 1, 2016, fathers of children born out-of-wedlock could sign administrative forms at the time of a child’s birth at the hospital and have the child legitimized at that time.  Although administrative legitimations never granted custody or visitation rights to biological fathers, the administrative legitimation did guaranteed that there was a legal father of the child.

With the passage of SB 64, now more than ever it is imperative for fathers seeking to legitimize a child born out-of-wedlock to seek legal representation.  Now that the court system is the only place to legitimize a child, having an attorney in your corner will help ensure that you not only legitimize your child but that you have custody and visitation rights established as well.

If you or a loved one find yourselves in need of representation in a legitimation action, give us a call at the Sellers Law Firm: where clients become family.