Paternity is the relationship between the legal father of a child and the child. Sometimes it is not clear who the legal father of a child is. This occurs when the mother and father were not married when the child was born, no acknowledgement of paternity was signed, or no father is named on the child’s birth certificate. 

A court can decide who the legal father is if the mother wants a court order that says who the legal father of her child is or a man wants to be recognized as the legal father of a child by signing an acknowledgment of paternity.

Philadelphia Legal Assistance provides assistance with establishing paternity.