How to get father's rights, unmarried

[Mommytobe9]

Jurisdiction

Alabama

My boyfriend and I are expecting a child soon and I know automatically I have rights/custody, but being unmarried, we are unsure on the process of his rights/custody. Is it something we sign in the hospital?

 

[KatDini]

Even if Boyfriend signs an Acknowledgment of Paternity, according to state statute:
Section 26-17-305
Effect of acknowledgment of paternity.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 26-17-307 and 26-17-308, a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the Alabama Office of Vital Statistics shall be considered a legal finding of paternity of a child and confers upon the acknowledged father all of the rights and duties of a parent.

(b) An acknowledgment of paternity shall be a legally sufficient basis for establishing an obligation for child support and for the expenses of the mother's pregnancy and confinement.

(Act 2008-376, p. 666, §2.)
Section 26-17-305

It also gives him the right to file for custody/visitation/child support if your relationship goes belly-up without having to file to establish paternity. I would suggest Boyfriend ask for a DNA test before signing anything; because when the relationship does go belly up, the first accusation is going to be that you lied about him being the father of Baby.

See also:
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/alison/codeofalabama/1975/128024.htm
http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/alison/codeofalabama/1975/128972.htm