Putative Fathers

A putative father is the alleged father of a child, or claims to be the father of a child when there is no proof at the time that he is the actual father. Putative fathers have parental rights, though they do not have as many rights as unwed mothers or married couples. The state has almost complete control of the rights a putative father is given in court adoption hearings and the termination of parental rights. Some states have created voluntary putative father registries where men on the list must be notified before a child can be placed for adoption.